As the intensity of the Olympic competition increases, adventures await us all in fear. Will CHEN Yu Fei defend her title? Can TAI Tzu Ying or Marin persuade their tired muscles to make one last effort? Is this really AN Se Young’s medal?
Who can rise from good to great to gold?
Quarterfinal showdowns
This edition of the Olympic WS has some brilliant players: from battle-hardened veterans in their fourth Olympiad to some newcomers. They are all ready to show off their best versions of themselves and strive for glory at La Chapelle Arena.
AN Se Young and Akane Yamaguchi
About a year ago, AN Se Young was destined to completely dominate women’s badminton, but since her knee injury, she hasn’t been invincible. She’s the favorite for gold here, but the constant pressure of high-level matches will be a big challenge. After the group stage, she receives a bye for the quarter-finals and is expected to face Akane Yamaguchi, who herself has injury problems. At her best, Akane could reach the semifinals. I watched their game at the All England this year and AY’s refusal to concede was extraordinary. If she can bring this unwavering faith to justice, she will not be defeated. However, at the start of the national team training camp in July she downplayed her chances of regaining her top form, so the early group stages should give us an idea of what level she can reach.
TAI Tzu Ying and Gregoria Tunjung
TAI Tzu Ying and Ratchanok Intanon meet early – in Group E – but only one can advance to the knockout rounds. Many neutrals will be wistful that these two missed the opportunity to face each other later in the competition. Both are nearing the end of their dazzling careers; both would adorn any Olympic podium. The reality is that both have suffered fairly serious injuries this year, so this may impact on the performance of both – but it will not affect their ambitions.
The winner of their group will likely face Gregoria Tunjung, who has the shots and pace needed to go deep into the competition. She needs to maintain her mental toughness if she wants to get to the podium – she’s definitely a dark horse. It could be her time. Read more about her here https://techpulsehub.uk//2023/04/03/gregoria-mariska-tunjung-anything-is-possible/
Ayo Ohori and Carolina Marin
Ohori had an outstanding 2024, achieving her highest ranking ever (10). Although she is not widely considered a medal contender, she has a decent draw and is fit. Her victory at the Thailand Masters in February lasted more than three sets and 80 minutes, so she shouldn’t have too much trouble in a slow, grueling venue.
Meanwhile, Marin is determined to reclaim her gold from Rio. She is the most focused competitor, but repeating the win eight years later is a lot. I would never bet against the Spaniard, but at the French Open that year she underperformed by her own standards (losing in R32), but then bounced back to win the All England the following week.
CHEN Yu Fei and HE Bing Jiao
Can the defending champion keep her medal? Given her win against AN Se Young at the Indonesia Open a few weeks ago, it looks like she has a good chance. However, she first has to master a possible QF with her compatriot SE Bing Jiao. It’s possible that HBJ pulls off an upset, but the odds are slim. Not least because CHEN knows exactly what it takes to win gold and can take a lot of positives from their recent win. In this game she pushed and pushed: not content with simply giving the ball back, she pushed for the lines, stayed positive and got her reward. This could be a possible strategy if she has to face the Korean in SF.
Top takeaways
Because of the injuries and the draw, it was a very open competition. Success will depend on who can adapt to the stadium conditions and stay fit enough to continue. It would be a dream come true to see TAI Tzu Ying at the top of the podium: she could do it, but she needs to avoid strenuous games and I don’t think that will be possible. Gregoria has little chance of winning a medal, but it’s hard to look past a success from CHEN Yu Fei or AN Se Young in Paris.
If you liked this, check out my men’s singles preview here: https://techpulsehub.uk//2024/07/24/olympic-badminton-2024-mens-singles/
Please do not republish my work in other formats without my permission.
©2025
TechPulseHub All rights reserved
