Once again it will be very difficult to predict the outcome of the men’s doubles this year. Even though the self-confident Koreans have, as always, performed well in spring and summer’s tournaments, it was the Indonesian couple, Mohammad Ashan and Hendra Setiawan, who won and thereby reclaimed the World Championships at the legendary home turf in Jakarta. However, the All England champions, Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen, and the defending champions from China arrive at Yonex Denmark Open with great successes behind them.
Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong
This year Korea will again form part of the world’s leading men’s doubles, although the season started off badly. The pair, Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong surprisingly lost in the first round of the All England to the Danes, Mads Pieler Kolding and Mads Conrad-Petersen in two sets. Nonetheless, they have since performed solidly, including taking second place at the Malaysia Open, first place at the Australian Open and semi-final spots at the world championships and Indonesian Open. Last year’s runners up are less easily intimidated than they used to be.
Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan
The Indonesians, Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan have had a brilliant season this far, with a victory in the Malaysia Open and gold in front of an ecstatic home crowd at the Jakarta World Championships being the major highlights. The 2013 world champions will therefore be expected to improve on last year’s quarter-final spot at the Yonex Denmark Open.
Read about the other profiles when Badminton Magazine is published in the begining of October and buy your tickets now!