As a new decade unfolds, watch out for these names.
An Se Young (Korea)
The Eddy Choong Most Promising Player of the Year has everything going for her at the moment. Opponents can only wonder at how much stronger – physically and mentally – she is likely to get.
Riko Gunji resembles her idol Akane Yamaguchi in more ways than one.
Riko Gunji (Japan)
The World Junior champion bears an uncanny resemblance to her idol Akane Yamaguchi. With the same physical stature and running ability, the Japanese was a standout at the World Junior Championships, and is currently still plying her wares on the junior circuit. As she grows physically, she is likely to become an even more well-rounded player. While it’s still too early to say how she’ll fare at the senior level, the signs are promising.
Vitidsarn emulated his senior compatriot Ratchanok Intanon.
Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Thailand)
The hat-trick of World Junior titles didn’t surprise Vitidsarn, and he has already set his sights on higher targets. Respected voices in the badminton community rate him very highly as a polished player with all-round skills, and with the hunger needed to push ahead.
Leo Rolly Carnando (right) and Daniel Marthin.
Daniel Marthin & Leo Rolly Carnando (Indonesia)
The World Junior champions have started to make inroads at the senior level. Carnando’s skills, particularly in his creation of openings with his abrupt angles and inventive shotmaking, are drawing attention, while Marthin’s power from the back gives him the ability to kill exchanges. The duo were instrumental in Indonesia’s first Suhandinata Cup title, following which they claimed the World Junior crown without dropping a game.
Lakshya Sen
Lakshya Sen (India)
The soft-spoken Indian won a clutch of titles last year, including two Super 100 – Dutch Open and SaarLorLux Open – and three International Challenge tournaments (Belgian International, Scottish Open, Bangladesh International. Quite impressively, his run included back-to-back triumphs (Belgian International, Dutch Open and SaarLorLux Open). Coached by Danish great Morten Frost, Sen has shot up the rankings to No.32 from No.109 this time last year.
Di Zi Jian and Wang Chang.
Di Zi Jian & Wang Chang (China)
The teenaged duo, World Junior champions in 2018, have already started pushing established senior pros. Winners of the SaarLorLux Open and semifinalists at the Lingshui China Masters and the Syed Modi Championships, the Chinese took Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo to three games at the French Open last year. Prominent victims last season include Rankireddy/Shetty, Marcus Ellis/Chris Langridge and Liu Cheng/Huang Kai Xiang.
Indah Cahya Sari Jamil
Indah Cahya Sari Jamil (Indonesia)
Indonesia will hope that the 17-year-old can step into the role played by Liliyana Natsir. She has worked well with different partners – with Daniel Marthin she helped Indonesia win the Sudandinata Cup; she won the Asian Junior title with Leo Rolly Carnando, and has also had encouraging results with Ghifari Anandaffa Prihardika. Her creative powers at the net have enthused followers of Indonesian badminton.
Christo Popov (France)
Lit up the World Junior Championships with his flamboyant style of play. The left-hander has had good results since then – quarterfinals at the Irish Open and SaarLorLux Open, semifinals at the Scottish Open, and runner-up finish at the Italian International.
Lauren Lam
Lauren Lam (USA)
Just 16, the USA player took the unusual decision of jumping headlong into the senior circuit without working her way up from the juniors. Senior compatriot Beiwen Zhang, who trains with her from time to time, believes her work ethic will take her far.
Rodion Alimov and Alina Davletova.
Rodion Alimov & Alina Davletova (Russia)
Beat Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing at the Hong Kong Open before running Puaravanukroh/Taerattanachai close. Went on to win the Syed Modi Championships, beating Marcus Ellis/Lauren Smith in the final.
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