2014 Japan Open Superseries | June 10-15 | Tokyo, Japan

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Kim Ki Jung (right) and Kim Sa Rang are the 2012 winners. 

 

Kim Ki Jung, part Korea's highest ranked men’s doubles team (world no.4) with Kim Sa Rang, returns to his first professional individual event since January after the reversed suspension. They’ve had a taste of success in Tokyo when they clinched the event in 2012 and are ready to make another winning run with potential challenge to appear in the quarters against Taiwan’s sixth seed Lee Sheng Mu/Tsai Chia Hsin. The Indonesian world no.1s Ahsan and Setiawan are also in the same half.

 

Taiwanese Tsai Chia Hsin (left) and Lee Sheng Mu have rised to world number 5 in the latest BWF rankings.

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World no.1 “Datuk” Lee Chong Wei has won the last two and a record four titles at Japan Open. He will open this year’s quest against a qualifier in the first round, however, with Chinese legend Lin Dan looming to fill that spot. Lin plans to play in his first Superseries event in more than two years after winning the 2012 All England and he will have to start from the qualifying. If he qualifies, he will have a one in four chance to clash with the Malaysian.

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Asians continue strong on the tour. We have five Superseries events to date in 2014 and Asians have swept all ten singles titles and will look to extend the dominance this week. Out of all 12 Superseries’ plus the grand Finals in 2013, the only non-Asians to win in singles are Danes Jan O Jorgensen at the French Open and Tine Baun at the All England.

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Son Wan Ho has been one of the fastest rising stars with his tenacious counter-punching game.

 

Korea’s up and coming singles hope Son Wan Ho will be the sixth seed in the jammed field that sees only one of the top-10 best shuttlers in the world missing. Despite being seeded, Son will have to jostle his way into the second round with Malaysia’s Thomas Cup hero Chong Wei Feng, who remained undefeated as the “second singles” in the team event last month en route to Malaysia’s first final in 12 years.

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Sweet memories in Tokyo. Tai Tzu Ying tallied her first Superseries victory at the 2012 Japan Open.

 

Taiwan’s Tai Tzu Ying broke through as the youngest woman ever, at 18 years and 3 months of age, to win a Superseries title two years ago here at the Japan Open, while Akane Yamaguchi made her home crowd proud by winning and pushing the record also at the event in 2013, to 16 years and 3 months.