The 2022 Swiss Open kicks off from March 22 where current world no. 1 Viktor Axelsen, fresh off his victory in the 2022 All England Open, will partake.
Anticipation last week was running high in Birmingham as Malaysia’s top men’s singles badminton star Lee Zii Jia stormed into semi-finals by empathically downing former world no. 1 Kento Momota in three sets – 21-7, 13-21, 21-11. He, however, couldn’t vault over the next hurdle, falling just short in the semi-final against Lakshya Sen, thus relinquishing his hold on the tournament he won in 2021. Having appeared in two consecutive semi-finals in the month of March, Zii Jia will be taking a breather from the Basel meet.
Malaysia’s hope will be pinned on men’s doubles. Top pairings including Olympic medallists Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik will be making a tilt for the title. Men’s singles representative Ng Tze Yong who caught the eyes in last year’s Thomas Cup during an encounter with Jonatan Christie could have a rematch if both were to win their respective matches in round of 32.
Who will Malaysian badminton players be facing at the 2022 Swiss Open?
In round of 32, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin face winners of the qualifying rounds. Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi vie with Toma Junior Popov-Christo Popov for a spot in the last 16, while Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik seeded second in men’s doubles confront winners of the qualifying rounds.
In women’s doubles, Low Yeen Yuan-Valeree Siow are through to round of 16 after top seeds Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan withdrew. They will next play the victors between Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien and compatriots Go Pei Kee-Yap Ling. Anna Cheong-Teoh Mei Xing are pitted against Maiken Fruergaard-Sara Thygesen.
In mixed doubles, Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See brave the challenge of Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto-Lisa Ayu Kusumawati, while Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing face MR Arjun-Treesa Jolly. Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai play Dhruv Kapila-Gayathri Gopichand, while Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei take on Ishaan Bhatnagar-Tanisha Crasto.
In women’s and men’s singles, S Kisona and Ng Tze Yong face opponents emerged from the qualifying rounds.
#SwissOpen2022 Order of Play
Day1️⃣
⏰ 8.00pm (MYT)#DemiMalaysia#BadmintonMalaysia pic.twitter.com/H9oxBNemef
— BAM (@BA_Malaysia) March 22, 2022
March 23 (qualifying rounds and round of 32)
Mixed doubles: Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See conceded their qualifying round 2 match against Rehan Kusharjanto-Lisa Kusmawati after Yee See tested positive for COVID-19.
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Hero and feature images: Alexander NEMENOV / AFP
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