Defending Champion Sai Praneeth Back to Defend His Title Reigning Commonwealth Games Champions Chris and Gabrielle Adcock eager for more triumphs

Transcription

1 PRESS RELEASE Defending Champion Sai Praneeth Back to Defend His Title Reigning Commonwealth Games Champions Chris and Gabrielle Adcock eager for more triumphs [SINGAPORE, 4 June 2018] The champion is back, as India's Sai Praneeth has confirmed that he will defend his Singapore Badminton Open men's singles title from 17th to 22nd July 2018 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The 25yearold righthander won his maiden Superseries title in impressive fashion in Singapore last year, beating compatriot K. Srikanth 1721, 2117, 2112 in the final. He followed that victory with another title win at the 2017 Thailand Open, and returns to the Republic with a wealth of experience under his belt. He also won the 2016 Canada Open. The World No.18 believes he is hungrier than ever for more success as he outlines his targets. He said: "2017 was a wonderful year for me, capping it off with a Gold at the Singapore Badminton Open was a great reward for my hard work. Defending my title this year is going to be challenging, but I will make my fans proud." It will also be a reunion of sorts for Praneeth with his former coach Mulyo Handoyo, who is currently in his second stint as head coach of the Singapore national team. The 57yearold Indonesian was India's national coach from February 2017 to February 2018 and is credited with putting in place a training system that yielded five Superseries titles in 2017 four from Srikanth (Indonesian Open, Australian Open, Denmark Open, French Open) and one from Praneeth (Singapore Open). Praneeth will be part of an 18strong Indian contingent consisting of rising badminton stars from the country, such as men's World No.40 Kashyap Parupalli, women's World No.91 Mugdha Agrey and India's topranked women's doubles pair of Ashwini Ponappa and N. Sikki Reddy. India, together with Hong Kong and England, have all confirmed their entries at the Singapore Badminton Open The four nations will join Chinese Taipei, Thailand, and Indonesia at the event. Just as eager to make their mark in this year s event is England, whose 13strong squad feature household names in search of fresh glory. Power couple Chris and Gabrielle Adcock will make the trip down to Singapore with aims of setting the competition alight with their consummate synergy. The dynamic duo has it all to play for, having won Gold at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games and a Bronze at the 2017 BWF World Championships.

2 Adding to the competition will be Hong Kong, who have submitted a team comprising 26 shuttlers, led by their top mixed doubles pair of Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet. The World No.3 duo were triumphant in January's Perodua Malaysian Masters, this year's first Super 500 series event. They were also victorious in the Denmark Open Premier Superseries in 2017, and were runnersup in last year's Dubai World Superseries Finals. The Singapore Open is seen as a fertile ground to unearth rising stars and dark horses. Many of today's stars, such as Japan's Kenji Momota, China's Sun Yu and Indonesia's Tommy Sugiarto and Angga Pratama/Ricky Karanda Suwardi, won their maiden trophies at the event. Tickets for the Singapore Badminton Open 2018 are available via Sports Hub Tix and APAC Tix. For more information, please contact: END Merliza Commander Lim Jasmine Juggler Tay Director Senior Account Manager merliza.lim@crowd.com.sg jasminetay@crowd.com.sg

3 Player Entry List Chinese Taipei MS CHOU, Tien Chen MS WANG, Tzu Wei MS HSU, Jen Hao MS LU, Chia Hung MS CHEN, Chi Ting MS YANG, Chih Chieh MS KAN, Chao Yu WS PAI, Yu Po WS CHIANG, Mei Hui WS LEE, Chia Hsin Unique players in this entry LEE, Yang LEE, JheHuei CHEN, Hung Ling WANG, ChiLin LU, Ching Yao YANG, Po Han SU, Ching Heng LIAO, Min Chun YANG, MingTse PO, LiWei LIAO, ChiHung KAN, Chao Yu HSU, Ya Ching WU, Ti Jung CHEN, Hsiao Huan HU, Ling Fang LEE, Yang HSU, Ya Ching WANG, ChiLin LEE, Chia Hsin LU, Ching Yao HU, Ling Fang LIAO, Min Chun CHEN, Hsiao Huan

4 Thailand WS INTANON, Ratchanok WS BURANAPRASERTSUK, Porntip Unique players in this entry. PUAVARANUKROH, Dechapol KEDREN, Kittinupong KUNAANUVIT, Pakin TRINKAJEE, Natthapat SUPAJIRAKUL, Puttita PAEWSAMPRAN, Supissara PUAVARANUKROH, Dechapol TAERATTANACHAI, Sapsiree KUNAANUVIT, Pakin PAEWSAMPRAN, Supissara JOMKOH, Supak SUPAJIRAKUL, Puttita Indonesia MS SUGIARTO, Tommy MS MUSTOFA, Ihsan Maulana MS KHOLIK, Firman Abdul WS TUNJUNG, Gregoria Mariska WS FITRIANI, Fitriani WS AYUSTINE, Dinar Dyah WS HARTAWAN, Ruselli WS WTA, Aurum Oktavia ARYA PANGKARYANIRA, Wahyu Nayaka SANTOSO, Ade Yusuf PUTRA, Frengky Wijaya GUTAMA, Sabar Karyaman PRATAMA, Angga SAPUTRO, Rian Agung ISFAHANI, Moh Reza Pahlevi CAHYONO, Akbar Bintang RIVALDY, Rinov RAMADIANSYAH, Andika

5 Unique players in this entry. HARIS, Della Destiara PRADIPTA, Rizki Amelia AWANDA, Anggia Shitta SAHPUTRI, Meirisa Cindy PUTRI SARI, Rosyita Eka BARKAH, Yulfira MAHESWARI, Nitya Krishinda ISTARANI, Ni Ketut Mahadewi KANDOW, Winny Oktavina BANDASO, Mychelle Crhystine KUSUMAH, Tania Oktaviani SUGIARTO, Jauza Fadhila AHMAD, Tontowi NATSIR, Liliyana SAPUTRA, Yantoni Edy ISLAMI, Marsheilla Gischa RONALD, Ronald SAUFIKA, Annisa RAMADIANSYAH, Andika BANDASO, Mychelle Crhystine CAHYONO, Akbar Bintang KANDOW, Winny Oktavina RIVALDY, Rinov MENTARI, Pitha Haningtyas India MS PARUPALLI, Kashyap MS RAJARAJAN, Karan Rajan MS SAI PRANEETH, B. WS AGREY, MUGDHA WS PRABHUDESAI, Anura WS CHOUDHARI, VAIDEHI WS MOOKERJEE, Riya WS GADDE, Ruthvika Shivani

6 Unique players in this entry. MANDIRAJU, Anilkumar Raju PRASAD, Venkat Gaurav SHLOK, Ramchandran M.R., Arjun PONNAPPA, Ashwini REDDY, N. Sikki DEWANGAN, Juhi PRASAD, Venkat Gaurav RANKIREDDY, Satwiksairaj PONNAPPA, Ashwini England MS PENTY, Toby WS BIRCH, Chloe Unique players in this entry. LANE, Ben VENDY, Sean BRIGGS, Peter WOLFENDEN, Tom SMITH, Lauren PUGH, Jessica BIRCH, Chloe MOORE, Jenny ADCOCK, Chris ADCOCK, Gabrielle ELLIS, Marcus SMITH, Lauren LANE, Ben PUGH, Jessica MAIRS, Gregory MOORE, Jenny

7 Hong Kong MS NG, Ka Long Angus MS WONG, Wing Ki Vincent MS HU, Yun MS WEI, Nan MS LEE, Cheuk Yiu MS CHAN, Yin Chak WS CHEUNG, Ngan Yi WS YIP, Pui Yin WS YEUNG, Sum Yee OR, Chin Chung LEE, Chun Hei Reginald MAK, Hee Chun HO, Wai Lun YEUNG, Ming Nok CHANG, Tak Ching TAM, Chun Hei CHUNG, Yonny CHAN, Tsz Kit YEUNG, Shing Choi YEUNG, Nga Ting NG, Wing Yung YUEN, Sin Ying NG, Tsz Yau LEE, Chun Hei Reginald CHAU, Hoi Wah TANG, Chun Man TSE, Ying Suet MAK, Hee Chun YEUNG, Nga Ting CHANG, Tak Ching NG, Wing Yung

8 Unique players in this entry. HO, Wai Lun YUEN, Sin Ying YEUNG, Ming Nok NG, Tsz Yau *DSICLAIMER Countries have until 5 June 2018 to submit their squads for the Singapore Badminton Open 2018 and until 25th June to withdraw any players from the submitted squad.