The national badminton team that will represent South Africa at the ninth bi-ennial Doublestar Sudirman Cup tournament due to get underway at the Capital Gymnasium, Beijing, China, from 10 to 15 May, have departed.  Some 460 players have been named by the 41 countries who will compete at this world mixed team championships. 

 

South Adrica will this year compete in Group 4B against France, Australia and Peru.  The full team is:  Chris Dednam (FS), Roelof Dednam (FS), Dorian James (WP), Michelle Edwards (WP; captain), Chantal Botts (KZN), Annari Viljoen (FS), and Mr Johan Kleingeld (FS; manager/coach).  Wiaan Viljoen (FS) and Stacey Doubell (WP) are the non-travelling reserves.

 

Only three nations have won this event since its inauguration in 1989.  Indonesia won the first event in Jakarta, with Korea winning in 1991 and 1993.  China took home the trophy on the next four consecutive occasions, before Korea regained the world team title in 2003.

The Doublestar Sudirman Cup competition takes the form of round-robin group play in the opening stages, with teams then playing-off to determine an overall team world ranking.  Only the eight teams in Group 1 have a shot at taking the coveted cup – named after a former IBF Vice-President and “father” of Indonesian badminton, Dick Sudirman - home with them, while the remaining teams – positioned in groups according to their rankings from the previous competition – will fight for promotion in the five lower divisions.

Korea – champions at the last competition in March 2003 at Eindhoven (Netherlands) – will start their title defence against 2003 semi-finalists Denmark, England and Thailand in Group 1A.  Hosts China, keen to regain the world team title they’ve won on four previous occasions, will start their campaign against Indonesia, newly-promoted neighbours Hong Kong China and Sweden in Group 1B.  The Chinese will be eager to avenge their loss at the 2003 edition of the event in Eindhoven and will rely on a 24-strong contingent in their bid to bring the trophy back home.  Reigning champions Korea – favourites to progress from Group 1A – are not about to give their title up without a fight, and have named some surprise additions to their 18-member team.  Denmark – bronze medallists at the 2003 event – have called up a 23-strong team.

In division two, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and Germany are considered among the main contenders for promotion to the top flight for the 2007 edition of the event in Glasgow (Scotland), while the remaining teams in the four other lower divisions will be looking to improve on their final ranking positions.