【Hong Kong Badminton Open】Top badminton stars arriving in Hong Kong as competition starts tomorrow!

“YONEX-SUNRISE Hong Kong Open 2018” is set to unfold tomorrow (November 13) at the Hong Kong Coliseum, the 6-day event has attracted top ranked players from all over the world, as they arrived in Hong Kong over the past two days. Among them are Tai Tzu Ying, who has been the top ranked female player for 100 consecutive weeks, Spain’s Caroline Marin, and India’s very own Pusarla V. Sindhu. Team China and Team Japan also arrived today, yet there is no sign of Lin Dan at the airport, as he didn’t travel with the rest of the team, while Men’s World No.1, Kento Momota from Japan appeared to be all smiling when he stepped out of the Arrival Hall.

Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying, who arrived yesterday, has not been dethroned from her Women’s No.1 spot for 100 weeks. Having lost to Japan’s Yamaguchi Akane after a hard-fought three games final at the YONEX French Open 2018, Tai immediately announced her withdrawal from this month’s Fuzhou China Open 2018 to stay sharp. The 2018 Asian Games gold medalist flew from Taiwan to Hong Kong yesterday, but she maintained her usual low-profile, leaving the airport upon arrival wearing a black mask and a cap.

Also arriving Hong Kong yesterday include Women’s World No.5, Spain’s Caroline Marin, and World No.3, Pusarla V. Sindhu from India. Marin appeared to be exhausted, while Sindhu, who showed up wearing a flower pattern top, looks particularly sharp. 2018 Asian Games Men’s Single gold medalist, Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie also arrived Hong Kong on the same day.

With 16 men and 20 women at the Hong Kong Open, Team China has the largest squad among the 18 participating teams. Among them are former Men’s Single World No.1 Lin Dan, 2016 Olympic Games Men’s Single gold medalist Chen Long, and 22-year-old future star Shi Yuqi, who was the first to step out of the Arrival Hall, but he left rather quickly via the aisle on the other side. The rest of the China Team followed, but Lin Dan was not to be seen, and Chen Long didn’t smile to the cameras. Team China then boarded the awaiting bus and headed to the hotel, as they start to prepare for tomorrow’s competition.

Team Japan arrived Hong Kong via the same flight as their Chinese counterparts, with Kento Momota and Yamaguchi Akane undoubtedly the faces of the 12 men and 17 women squad. The newly ranked Men’s Single World No.1 Kento Momota was in some apparent good mood as he arrived, as if the Japanese does not feel any pressure regarding the much hyped face-off with Lin Dan in the opening round. Both Kento Momota and Yamaguchi Akane did not speak with the media before they leave.

“YONEX-SUNRISE Hong Kong Open 2018” will be held from 13th to 18th November at Hong Kong Coliseum.
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