Five world champions line up for China Badminton Masters
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Xinhua, September 13, 2011
All five reigning world champions will compete in the 2011 China Badminton Masters, the 7th leg of the OSIM BWF Super Series, which will take place at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center from Sept.13-18.
China Masters has been held in Changzhou for the fourth consecutive time since 2008.
Headlining the event is four-time world champion Lin Dan of China, while his arch rival Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia is absent due to injury. Lin beat Lee, the current world No. 1, in the tough final of this year's world championships.
Lin will face the likes of sixth seed Sho Sasaki of Japan, who has already beaten him this year, as well as 2010 world champion Chen Jin on the way to defend his title.
Danish veteran Peter Gade, world No. 3, is seeded in the second half and his main challengers include third seed Chen Long and fifth seed Du Pengyu, both from China.
China's Wang Yihan, who captured her first world title in London, is the top seed in the women's draw which also features top ten in women's singles.
Wang Yihan has a tough draw as she will face Sung Ji Hyun of South Korea in the opening round and the likes of teammate Li Xuerui and fifth seed Saina Nehwal of India afterwards.
Second seed Wang Shixian and defending champion Wang Xin have worlds' runner-up Cheng Shao Chieh of Chinese Taipei, Juliane Schenk of Germany and Danish shuttler Tine Baun in their half.
The two other world champions, Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng (men's doubles) and Yu Yang/Wang Xiaoli(women's doubles) are also on the way to defend their crowns in China Masters.
Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei(mixed doubles), after claiming the world title, are set to show their dominance again in China Masters, where they have never won.
