The Favorites: The 2021 Medalists from China and Korea

*World rankings are accurate as of July 19.

China has long been a dominant force in women’s doubles badminton, having won 21 of the 26 BWF World Championships. Although China is as strong as ever, Japan and Korea now rival the Chinese in skill. Teams from all three countries have a good shot at winning the title at the upcoming 2022 World Championships in Tokyo.

A step ahead of the competition are CHEN Qing Chen and JIA Yi Fan of China. The 25-year-olds earned silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and have already won four tournaments this year. Their devastating skill as attackers has earned them the No. 1 seed, a position they are looking to cement with a second consecutive World Championship title. If Chen and Jia are able to defend the title, their total of three wins would tie the tournament record, ensuring their place in badminton history.

Meanwhile, Korea has a history of producing exceptional doubles teams. This year, two Korean teams will be aiming to stand atop the podium for the first time: LEE So Hee and SHIN Seung Chan; and KIM So Yeong and KONG Hee Yong. Both teams boast a fresh playing style characterized by precise smashes and cuts, as well as the solid receiving that is so common among Korean shuttlers. When they get into a good offensive rhythm, few can stand against them. Fans will remember that the two Korean pairs fought a fierce battle against the Chinese squad in the finals of the Uber Cup (the World Women’s Team Championships) in May, where they helped Korea bring home the gold.

Both teams are eager to improve on their performance from last year’s tournament, when Lee and Shin won the silver medal and Kim and Kong the bronze. If either team can replicate their Uber Cup success, they will give Korea its first women’s doubles World Championship title in 27 years.

High Hopes for the Unstoppable Shida and Matsuyama

Chiharu SHIDA / Nami MATSUYAMA (Japan)

Japan also has a good chance of winning the title, with three teams in the BWF World Ranking Top 10: Yuki FUKUSHIMA and Sayaka HIROTA (No. 2); Chiharu SHIDA and Nami MATSUYAMA (No. 5); and Wakana NAGAHARA and Mayu MATSUMOTO (No. 6).

Shida and Matsuyama, in particular, have been on top of their game since March, when they notched their first victory at the world’s oldest badminton tournament, the All England Open. They came to prominence in 2015, when they won bronze in their first appearance at the World Junior Championships and began playing at the senior level in 2016. Shida and Matsuyama are known for strategically switching positions on the court to score one point after another in a rapid-fire series of attacks.

“Winning a medal would give us confidence,” says Shida, who plays the backcourt. “I think it will be an important tournament for us.” They hope to become world champions this year, then follow up with the gold medal at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Meanwhile, Fukushima and Hirota, who finished second at three consecutive World Championships, and Nagahara and Matsumoto, who have twice won gold, will be looking to make a comeback on the world stage after suffering disappointments last year due to Hirota’s and Nagahara’s injuries. Both seem to have made a full recovery, with Fukushima and Hirota winning silver at the Indonesia Open in July and Nagahara and Matsumoto coming in third at the Malaysia Open in June. The cheers of their Japanese fans are certain to inspire both teams to show off their full potential in Tokyo.

Newcomers Look to Overthrow the Top Seeds

Jongkolphan KITITHARAKUL / Rawinda PRAJONGJAI, (Thailand)

Of course, players from many other countries are determined to ensure that China, Korea, and Japan are not the only contenders for gold. Thailand’s Jongkolphan KITITHARAKUL and Rawinda PRAJONGJAI, Malaysia’s TAN Pearly and THINAAH Muralitharan, and Bulgaria’s Stefani STOEVA and Gabriela STOEVA remain in the top of the BWF World Rankings. A tournament as high-profile as the World Championships brings an added layer of stress for shuttlers to contend with, but these teams have proven their ability to challenge the front runners.

There are also several up-and-comers to keep an eye on, including 22-year-olds LIU Xuan Xuan and XIA Yu Ting of China—the 2018 World Junior Champions—and KIM Hye Jeong and JEONG Na Eun of Korea, who have had a stellar record on the World Tour this year, even winning a bronze medal at the All England Open. Both pairs have seen their world rankings skyrocket since January as a result of their strict practice regimens, which involve training alongside their more seasoned teammates. They will no doubt take advantage of their newcomer status to keep even higher-ranked shuttlers on their toes.