Li Ning China Masters 2011 - Day 3 results

Saina Nehwal survived a huge scare in Round 2 where she had to spend almost an hour and a quarter to overcome Ayane Kurihara of Japan 21-11 18-21 27-25. She now faces an acid test in the next round where she faces the top seed Yihan Wang of China.

Kashyap Parupalli had a tough Round 2 and as expected lost to Peter Hoeg Gade, who is the 2nd seed here.

Diju V. and Jwala Gutta have also made it into the Quarterfinals. On route they demolished Tao Jiaming and Qing Tian who were the 2nd seeds!

Yonex BWF World Championships 2011 - Semifinal Predictions

An off color Saina Nehwal lost in the quarterfinals to Wang Xin of China. Saina didn't look comfortable at all and surrendered rather meekly. An unfortunate result for India as Saina was looking good till this match and a lot was expected of her.

Anyway, lets move on. Here are my predictions for the Semifinals today -

Xin WANG [3] - Yihan WANG [2]

Chong Wei LEE [1] - Jin CHEN [6]

Shao Chieh CHENG [7] - Juliane SCHENK [9]

Qing TIAN/Yunlei ZHAO [5] - Jwala GUTTA/Ashwini PONNAPPA

Peter Hoeg GADE [3] - Dan LIN [2]

Yonex BWF World Championships 2011 - Day 4 update and Day 5 predictions

100% on my prediction made here for a second day running!

Today's predictions -

Saina NEHWAL [6] - Xin WANG [3]
Haven't seen Wang play yet as none of her matches were on the "show" court. Saina has been in exquisite touch and I think should be able to pull this one off too.

Vita MARISSA/Nadya MELATI - Jwala GUTTA/Ashwini PONNAPPA
And the dream run for the womens doubles pair continues! I tip Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa to win this encounter as well.

Some other predictions -

Hongyan PI - Yihan WANG [2]
I think Pi Hongyan will pull this one off! Lets see.

Juliane SCHENK [9] - Tine BAUN [5]
I think this is going to be a close affair. Probably the match to watch out for. Will be a long and close match. Again both have not played on the "show" court so its tough to choose the winner. I will probably go with Juliane though.

Yonex BWF World Championships 2011 - Day 4 predictions

My predictions for India's matches today at the Yonex BWF World Championships 2011.

Pui Yin YIP [14] - Saina NEHWAL [6]
Saina showed get form yesterday when she dispatched Chloe Magee from Ireland in quick time. I foresee another 2 game demolition of Pui Yin YIP.

Diju VALIYAVEETIL/Jwala GUTTA [16] - Joachim FISCHER NIELSEN/Christinna PEDERSEN [5]
Haven't seen Diju/Jwala playing since their Round 1 match was not on the "show" court so its a difficult choice and more of a guess. Diju has been in rehab since his back surgery and it will all depend on his fitness. I will go with the Danes on this one, but I really want us to win this!

Jin CHEN [6] - Ajay JAYARAM
Ajay has had a fantastic run in this tournament and will get some good ranking points but I think this is the end of the road for him in this tournament. Jin Chen is just too powerful. It will be great if Ajay can get a game off Jin.

Lok Yan POON [11]/Ying Suet TSE - Jwala GUTTA/Ashwini PONNAPPA
Another upset from the womens doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa. They should beat the 11th seeds in 2 games.

Yonex BWF World Championships 2011 - Day 3 predictions

India's match-up's today -

• Chloe MAGEE - Saina NEHWAL [6] --> Saina NEHWAL in 2 games
• P KASHYAP - Tien Minh NGUYEN [7] --> Tien Minh NGUYEN in 3 games
• Jwala GUTTA/Ashwini PONNAPPA - Wen Hsing CHENG/Yu Chin CHIEN [2] --> Jwala GUTTA/Ashwini PONNAPPA in 3 games
• Jien Guo ONG/Sook Chin CHONG - Diju VALIYAVEETIL/Jwala GUTTA [16] --> Diju VALIYAVEETIL/Jwala GUTTA in 2 games
• Ajay JAYARAM - Vladimir IVANOV --> Ajay JAYARAM in 3 games

I am going with one upset today - from Jwala GUTTA/Ashwini PONNAPPA - looks very difficult for them to pull this off but let's see!

YONEX BWF World Badminton Championships - India's chances

The World Badminton Championships will be held in London between 8-Aug-11 to 14-Aug-11.

Saina Nehwal has been seeded 6th. Here are my predictions for her possible opponents in the rounds.

Round 1 - Bye
Round 2 - Adrianti Firdasari (should win this)
Round 3 - Yip Pui Yin (14th seed) (should win this)
Quarterfinals - Wang Xin (3rd seed) (tough, but possible - should try to close it in 2 games. Any more and she will be playing to Wang's strength)
Semifinals - Wang Yihan (2nd seed) (will depend on fitness and length of earlier matches)
Finals - Wang Shixian (Top seed) (will depend on fitness and length of earlier matches)

Here is Parupalli Kashyap's draw. I think it will be great if he can make it out of Round 2. His possible opponents.

Round 1 - Dieter Domke (should win this)
Round 2 - Tien Minh Nguyen (7th seed) (tough)
Round 3 - Boonsak Ponsana (10th seed) (very tough)
Quarterfinals - Peter Hoeg Gade (3rd seed) (impossible! lets stop here!)

In the Mens doubles Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas also have a tough draw and they would do great to cross Round 2.

In the Womens doubles Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa would create waves in Badminton circles if they can cross Round 2 where they unfortunately face the 2nd seeds.

In the mixed doubles 16th seeds Diju Valiyaveetil and Jwala Gutta should do well to cross Round 3 where they meet the 5th seeds.