Playing on home turf has proved auspicious for world No.1s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang. After winning the TotalEnergies BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2023 in Changzhou, Liang and Wang enjoyed title success at both HSBC BWF World Tour events in China – the VICTOR China Open 2023 and the LI-NING China Masters 2023.

Now, with the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2023 due in Hangzhou in a few weeks, Liang and Wang hope the good run will continue.

“I hope we can win our third event in China. We will go back to training and analyse our performance at the China Masters before starting our preparations for the World Tour Finals,” said Liang.

The China Masters was their first title since becoming world No.1. Quite interestingly, despite winning a Super 1000 title and ascending to the top of the rankings, Liang and Wang claimed they didn’t feel worthy enough.

“I did discuss this with Wang Chang,” said Liang. “We aren’t deserving of the No.1 ranking status as haven’t won any major title so far which would complement our top ranking. Although we won the China Masters, we don’t think we’re still worthy of being No.1.”

That might be sounding excessively modest, for the duo have sparkled right through the year, beginning with the PETRONAS Malaysia Open, where they made the final. They won the YONEX SUNRISE India Open and were in the semifinals of the YONEX All England, before back-to-back finals in Thailand and Singapore.

After picking up bronze at the TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2023, the Chinese duo won the China Open and more recently, the China Masters.

Results apart, Liang and Wang bring personality to the court, with Liang’s physical play from the back ably complemented by Wang’s skillful control of the play. As a pair, they have a distinct style compared to other Chinese combinations.

They will head to Hangzhou in good spirits, having won one of the standout men’s doubles matches of the year.