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Uber Cup Preview - Chinese Squad Aim for 11th Title
Only four countries have won the Uber Cup since the competition was launched in 1956 - China, Japan, Indonesia and the United States.
| The likelihood of a fifth nation etching their name on to the Cup appears remote as traditional giants China go all out to win their 11th title. The United States is no longer a world power while Indonesia's women's team are still rebuilding. Japan is still around but it will take a mighty effort to stop the powerful Chinese squad. China is the top seeds in Group W, which also contains Germany and USA. Xie Xingfang, Lu Lan and Zhu Lin lead the way for China in the singles and the team is completed by Jiang Yanjiao, Yang Wei, Zhang Jiewen, Wei Yili, Zhang Yawen and Gao Ling. Olympic champion Zhang Ning is not in the team but the Chinese should still possess too much firepower for their group rivals. Hong Kong could spring a surprise in Group X with Asian Games champion Wang Chen, the world number five, and 12th-ranked Yip Pui-yin leading their singles charge. But there is not much depth in the Hong Kong squad to carry them in the knockout stages. They should beat South Africa but the Koreans will be favourites to win the group, especially with their strong doubles pairing of Lee Kyung-won and Lee Hyo-jung. Group Y will probably be the most competitive of the tournament with Malaysia facing Denmark and New Zealand. The main clash of the group would be that of All England champion Tine Rasmussen, of Denmark, taking on Malaysia's leading player Wong Mew Choo. Malaysia will also put their faith in the doubles team of Wong Pei-Tty and China Eei Hui while the Danes have Lena Frier Kristiansen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl to help them win a point. Group Z should also produce some fireworks with Japan, Indonesia and the Netherlands all looking to secure first place. Eriko Hirose, Kaori Mori and Yu Hirayama will give the Japanese a slight edge over the Indonesians but the hosts have a strong doubles challenge led by the pairing of Vita Marissa-Lilyana Natsir. Only the group winners advance to the quarter-finals while the other teams must qualify from the first round. |
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