Chou Tien Chen celebrates winning for the first time in 2017.
Smashing Stats: German Open 2024
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
TEXT BY PREM KUMAR | BADMINTONPHOTO
SHARE
Following a three-week break, the HSBC BWF World Tour 2024 resumes in Mulheim with the Super 300 German Open.
In the last 20 years, Scotland are the sole non-Asian nation other than Denmark and England to produce titlists. Robert Blair won the mixed doubles with Englishwoman Gabrielle White in 2011 and compatriot Imogen Bankier three seasons later.
In Kirsty Gilmour (8) and Alexander Dunn/Adam Hall (7), the Scots have seeded hopes this edition.
Canada, USA, France, Netherlands and Bulgaria are the other non-Asian countries with seeded representatives.
Ng Ka Long Angus is the only defending champion in the draw while Chou Tien Chen, Kim Won Ho, Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Jemie Lai and Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanachai are the former winners returning.
Puavaranukroh/Taerattanachai and Chou are the top seeds with previous success.
If successful, Chou will become the first men’s singles player since Lin Dan in 2007 to win thrice.
Only shuttlers from China, Japan and Korea have won in women’s singles following Frenchwoman Pi Hong Yan’s victory in 2002.
To boot, Pi is the lone French player on the honour roll. The Popov brothers in men’s singles and women’s doubles third seeds Anne Tran/Margot Lambert could expand that list by striking gold.
Hosts Germany have had no joy since Brigitte Steden/Marieluise Zizmann (women’s doubles) and Wolfgang Bochow/Zizmann (mixed doubles) aced their disciplines in 1975. Their best bet to end that drought appears to be their only seeded players – men’s pair Mark Lamsfuss/Marvin Seidel (No.6).
Men’s doubles is the category China have gone the longest without winning, after Chai Biao/Hong Wei in 2013. They have one seeded pair this time – He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu (3).
Standout Stat: Among badminton powerhouses, Indonesia’s wait to top the podium has been the lengthiest – 21 years since Flandy Limpele/Eng Hian’s men’s doubles title.