As we are currently in the middle of the Japan Open, where players are competing at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza. Excitingly, this is the very venue this time next year players will be fighting for Olympic glory.
Although only a quarter of the way through the Olympic qualification year, it seems a poignant moment to take a look at current standings. As a reminder, BWF are scheduled to publish the final qualification status on April 30, 2020.
Nations can enter a maximum of two players each in the men's and women's singles, if both are ranked in the world's top 16; otherwise, one quota place until the roster of thirty-eight players has been completed. In doubles, nations can enter a maximum of two pairs if both are ranked in the top 8, while the remaining nations are entitled to one until the quota of 16 highest-ranked pairs is filled.
Which nations will have 2 entries in the draw?
Any national set-up will love the opportunity to have 2 chances at a medal in each event. This is the best any nation can hope for. Let’s take a look at the rankings (correct as of 23/07/19). I have listed the 2 players in qualification spots and also the players who are not far away.
Men’s Singles
China – Shi Yuqi (2) & Chen Long (4) --- Lin Dan (14), Lu Guangzu (19)
Japan – Kento Momota (1) & Kenta Nishimoto (11) --- Kanta Tsuneyama (17)
Indonesia – Jonatan Christie (7) & Anthony Ginting (8) --- Tommy Sugiarto (18)
Denmark – Viktor Axelsen (5) & Anders Antonsen (9) --- H.K. Vittinghus (25), Rasmus Gemke (26), Jan O Jorgensen (27)
India – Srikanth Kidambi (10) & Sameer Verma (13) --- Sai Praneeth (23), H.S. Prannoy (34)
Women’s Singles
Japan – Akane Yamaguchi (2) & Nozomi Okuhara (3) --- Sayaka Takahashi (15), Aya Ohori (20)
China – Chen Yufei (4) & He Bingjiao (6) --- Han Yue (12), Cai Yanyan (17), Chen Xiaoxin (21), Li Xuerui (22)
India – P.V. Sindhu (5) & Saina Nehwal (8)
Men’s Doubles
Indonesia – Marcus Gideon/ Kevin Sukamuljo (1) & Hendra Setiawan/ Mohammad Ahsan (4) --- Fajar Alfian/ Muhammad Ardianto (7)
China – Li Junhui/ Liu Yuchen (2) & Han Chengkai/ Zhou Haodong (6) --- He Jiting/ Tan Qiang (10)
Japan – Takeshi Kamura/ Keigo Sonoda (3) & Hiroyuki Endo/ Yuta Watanabe (5) --- Takuro Hoki/ Yugo Kobayashi (12), Takuto Inoue/ Yuki Kaneko (19)
Women’s Doubles
Japan – Yuki Fukushima/ Sayaka Hirota (1) & Mayu Matsumoto/ Wakana Nagahara (2) --- Misaki Matsutomo/ Ayaka Takahashi (3)
China – Chen Qingchen/ Jia Yifan (4) & Du Yue/ Li Yinhui (7) --- Li Wenmei/ Zheng Yu (15)
Mixed Doubles
China – Zheng Siwei/ Huang Yaqiong (1) & Wang Yilyu/ Huang Dongping (2) --- He Jiting/ Du Yue (12)
As things stand, China are the only nation who have the maximum number of entries on the plane to Tokyo. Another interesting note is, and a testimony to how far they have developed as a nation, Japan’s Matsutomo and Takahashi, current Olympic champions, are outside Olympic qualification despite being at number 3.
For the full current Olympic qualification notional rankings, click
here.