The Super 500 Thailand Open, founded in 1984, is into its 35th edition.

For one season, during the COVID-19-hit period, it was upgraded to two back-to-back Super 1000s as part of the Asian Leg in January 2021.

Let’s look at some interesting facts about the tournament.

• Three nations have produced titlists in all five disciplines – China, Indonesia and Korea.
• China remain the sole country to complete a clean sweep. They did it in 1999 and 2008.
• At the last four Thailand Opens, only Chinese Taipei won at least a single event.
• Indonesians Susi Susanti and Greysia Polii possess the most titles – four each.
• Compatriot Apriyani Rahayu, who did her treble with Polii, could join them if she secures women’s doubles alongside Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti.
• Susanti’s four arrived in a row (1991-1994), a tournament record for consecutive triumphs.
• Among ex-champions, Chan Peng Soon has gone the longest without winning. Playing in mixed doubles with Cheah Yee See this time, the Malaysian took his solitary title in 2009, with Lim Khim Wah in men’s doubles.
• Other former winners returning with different partners are Huang Dong Ping (Feng Yan Zhe), Choi Sol Gyu (Kim Won Ho) and He Ji Ting (Zhou Hao Dong).
• Choi and He can be the first shuttlers to succeed in a second department since Huang, whose 2019 mixed doubles win with Wang Yi Lyu came three years after she and Li Yin Hui emerged women’s doubles queens.
• Choi and He’s previous victories were in mixed doubles. Choi’s was eight years ago alongside Eom Hye Won while He triumphed with Du Yue in 2017. Eom is also in the mixed doubles draw with Ko Sung Hyun.
• Lee Yong Dae was the most recent to win in separate disciplines at the same edition (men’s and mixed doubles in 2006). Fellow Korean Jeong Na Eun, seeded fifth in women’s and mixed doubles, could emulate him.
• Seo Seung Jae, second seed in mixed doubles with Chae Yu Jung, is another prospect.
• Korea’s bet to snap their 10-year men’s doubles drought will be on fifth seeds Choi/Kim and in-form PERODUA Malaysia Masters 2023 champions Kang Min Hyuk/Seo.
• Men’s doubles giants Indonesia have not won since 2017 (Berry Angriawan/Hardianto). Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto retired injured from the final last season.
• Despite the dry spell, they are still the most successful in the category with 12 titles, five more than China. Daniel Marthin/Leo Rolly Carnando (6) are their only seeded hope this edition.
• China go back further – no men’s pair have delivered after Liu Xiaolong/Qiu Zihan in 2012.
• It’s also been 12 years since the Chinese scooped the men’s singles, through Chen Long. This time, they boast three of the top eight seeds – Shi Yu Qi (3), Li Shi Feng (4) and Lu Guang Zu (5) – as well as Malaysia Masters runner-up Weng Hong Yang.
• Hosts Thailand last aced men’s singles and women’s doubles seven years ago but now rely on seeds Kunlavut Vitidsarn (2), Jongkolphan Kititharakul/Rawinda Prajongjai (4) and Benyapa–Nuntakarn Aimsaard (6).
• While Hong Kong China never topped the podium, they are able to count on two men’s singles seeds – Ng Ka Long Angus (6) and Lee Cheuk Yiu (8).
• Bulgaria are the other country with seeded players – Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva (No.8 in women’s doubles) – without earlier success.
• None of the defending champions are participating – first such occurrence after 2016 – meaning all five categories will crown new winners.
• Except An Se Young, the other top seeds have previously won their events.

Standout Stat: An is coached by Sung Jihyun, the only Korean women’s singles winner in tournament history. Sung triumphed in 2015.