Chinese shuttlers set to take 3 titles in Athens
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-07-29 15:01

China set to capture three badminton golds in Athens next month, if the Olympic seeding lists released by the International Badminton Federation on Thursday areanything to go by.

The final deadline for entries to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games passed on Wednesday, with badminton fulfilling its quota of 172 players at the Games.

A total of 89 men and 83 women will be competing in Athens, representing 32 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) -- a record number of countries and regions for badminton at an Olympic Games.

The seedings, based on the world ranking of 1 May, 2004, see world number one shuttlers Lin Dan and Gong Ruina top the list of favorites in the singles events, while the Malaysia and Korea Openchampions Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen are the top seeds in the women's doubles competition.

In men's singles, Lin Dan is accompanied at the top of the seeding list by teammate Chen Hong a surprise addition to the team at the expense of world champion and Sydney bronze medalist Xia Xuanze with Malaysia's world silver medalist Wong Choong Hann and China's Bao Chunlai seeded third and fourth.

Hoping to exorcise his ghosts from Sydney where he lost to Xia in the bronze medal play-off, Peter Gade is Europe's best hope in this event, with a seeding at number six.

Completing the eight seeded berths are Koreans Lee Hyun Il and Shon Seung Mo in fifth and seventh places respectively, and Indonesia's former Asian Champion Sony Dwi Kuncoro in eighth.

China's stars could be on course for a clean sweep of medals inthe women's singles, as World Champion Zhang Ning and Zhou Mi joinGong Ruina to make up the top three seeded positions.

The Netherlands' European Champion Mia Audina a silver medalist for Indonesia at the Atlanta Games is the fourth favorite and highest-ranked European hope. Audina gold run in Sydney was cut short by Camilla Martin, who finds herself seeded in seventh place.

Martin, 30, will be eager to improve in her Sydney silver medalin what will be one of her last events before retirement later this year.

Danish eyes will also be on World Champions Lars Paaske and Jonas Rasmussen, who start as favorites in the men's doubles eventahead of Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun in second place, and South Korea'scharismatic Ha Tae Kwon and Kim Dong Moon who are seeded third.

With Malaysia's Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah ranked fourth,the seedings suggest a repeat of the Sydney 2000 bronze medal play-off which left the Malaysians empty-handed, while Indonesia will have to cause a few upsets if they're to retain gold in this event

Luluk Hadiyanto-Yulianto Alven and Flandi Limpele-Eng Hian are the respective seventh and eighth seeds.

The South Koreans Kim Dong Moon and Ra Kyung Min are firm favorites heading into the mixed doubles event, and will be drawn to meet China's Olympic champions and second seeds Zhang Jun and Gao Ling in the finals.

Kim Yong Hyun and Lee Hyo Jung are seeded third, while fourth seeds Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms will be looking to at least match the bronze won by teammates Simon Archer and Jo Goode in Sydney.

With their best ever contingent of players for an Olympic Games,Thailand's best chance of success will rest in the mixed event, through fifth seeded Asian silver medalists Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongkam.

Ra Kyung Min and Lee Kyung Won will be looking to prevent a Chinese 1-2-3 in the women's doubles seeded third, the South Korean pair break up the three Chinese pairs Yang/Zhang, Gao/Huangand Wei/Zhao in first, second and fourth places.