Women’s Singles World champion Carolina Marin is enjoying a great time after she firmly entrenched herself on the world badminton scene. Following her victory in the 2014 Copenhagen final over Chinese no.1 seed Li Xuerui, Marin’s star has been on the rise. Her performances in BWF super-series matches have been exemplary. The way she destroyed India’s Saina Nehwal in the All-England final in March 2015 was a real treat for badminton fans. Marin proved that her 2014 World Championship win was no fluke as she bounced back after losing the first game to the Indian. The 21-year-old Spaniard used a mix of clever change of pace, piercing winners and delicate drop shots. She kept a smiling face all through and as Nehwal’s game fell apart, Marin took the championship as a smiling assassin with the Indian watching her own funeral. Marin continued to improve and rose to the no.1 spot in next to no time.
In an online poll recently conducted by Indonesia Badminton Federation, Carolina Marin has been voted as the fans’ most favorite woman player beating Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon and Korea’s Lee Yong Dae. Men’s vote was won by Indonesia’s Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo. Marin was the toast of a welcome dinner on August 8, 2015 hosted by the Governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama in honor of participants of Total BWF World Championships. Marin is the top seed in the tournament and has a first-round bye. She begins her campaign on August 11 against the winner in the match between Malaysia’s Jing Yi Tee and Italy’s Jeanie Cicognini. The Spaniard is determined to retain her 2015 world championship and lot of people think that she can successfully do so.
For Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei, 2015 World Championship is an acid test. It is more about proving his badminton capability and regaining the lost prestige than merely winning matches. The 8-month long doping ban was a huge blot on the reputation of the former world no.1. Like Marin, Lee also has his first match on August 11 against Lithuania’s Kestutis Nevickas but he runs against Germany’s no.12 seed Marc Zwiebler in the second round. If the Malaysian crosses this hurdle, he still has China’s 8th seed Wang Zhengming to contend with. It is a tough draw for Lee but the 33-year old Malaysian himself is a man of many seasons and very determined at this juncture. Along with several Malaysian players, Lee Chong Wei left for Jakarta yesterday. He is sporting a new hairstyle with blue-tinged hair. Lee has a coaching team consisting of Morten Frost, Hendrawan, and Tey Seu Bock.
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