SHANGHAI: Lin Dan’s China will look to reassert their dominance in Badminton ahead of the Olympics by resuming their stranglehold on the Thomas and Uber Cup titles on home ground from Sunday.
The sport’s pre-eminent nation suffered a blip at the last Thomas Cup in 2014 when Lin’s team were stunned in the semifinals by Japan, who then beat Malaysia in the final.
But Japan axed star man Kento Momota in April over a gambling scandal, and the signs are that normal service will be resumed when the world team championships convene in Kunshan.
China’s men won the Thomas Cup five times in a row until their defeat to Japan, while their women have collected eight of the last nine titles in the concurrent Uber Cup.
Uppermost in their minds will be the Rio Olympics in August, where China will attempt to match their performance at the last Games where they swept all five gold medals.
“China always makes a strong point to prove their strength in team matches,” Raphael Sachetat, chief editor of the online magazine badzine.net, said.
“Players always give their best for their country and this will be especially true for the men’s event.”
Lee Chong Wei could be one stumbling block. The Malaysian star, who led Malaysia to the 2014 final, beat both Lin and top-ranked Chen Long to win the Badminton Asia Championships earlier this month.
“The team is definitely ready for the challenge. We are all well prepared,” Lee, the world number two, told Malaysia’s The Star newspaper.
Winning the Thomas Cup would be a significant boost for Lee, 33, as he aims for a still-elusive gold medal in Rio.
But experts warn that pressure is already mounting on the veteran as he gears up for the Olympics — after losing the 2008 and 2012 finals to his nemesis, Lin.
“The pressure is on Lee Chong Wei to deliver the nation’s first ever (Olympic) gold medal,” Rizal Hashim, a Malaysia-based sports analyst, told AFP.
China will have an early chance for revenge against Japan in Group A, where they will also play France and Mexico, while Malaysia face South Korea, England and Germany in Group C.
In Group D, second-seeded Denmark are drawing inspiration from Japan’s 2014 run as they take on Taiwan, New Zealand and South Africa.
“If Japan can win the Thomas Cup, I think we can win as well,” fifth-ranked Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark told the Badminton World Federation website. “Two years ago was an eye-opener for many teams.”
In the Uber Cup, defending champions China are favorites to secure their 14th crown with three former world number ones, including Olympic champion Li Xuerui, at their disposal.
However Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara, and top-ranked doubles pair Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi, could cause them problems, as could Thailand’s world number two Ratchanok Intanon.
“Japan will be their main threat, led by Nozomi Okuhara, who has beaten top Chinese players recently and (has) very strong women’s doubles,” said Sachetat.
Both competitions feature 16 teams divided into four groups, with the top two in each qualifying for the quarterfinals.
China seeks Olympic boost with Cup badminton titles
China seeks Olympic boost with Cup badminton titles
‘Winning mindset’: Yazeed Al-Rajhi ready to defend title at Dakar 2026
- Race runs from Jan. 3-17, will start and conclude in Yanbu
YANBU: Saudi rally star Yazeed Al-Rajhi is gearing up to defend his Dakar Rally title as the 2026 edition of the race kicks off in Yanbu on Jan. 3.
Last year’s victory confirmed Al-Rajhi as the first Saudi driver to win the overall car category (Ultimate), the highest class in what is considered the world’s toughest rally.
Al-Rajhi said: “We are approaching Dakar 2026 with great determination and an even greater sense of responsibility after our achievement in 2025. Winning the title was a historic moment, but the real challenge now is defending it. The car is fully ready, the team is working as one, and our objective from the start is clear: to fight for victory and secure a strong opening to the W2RC season.”
He highlighted the complete readiness of co-driver Timo Gottschalk as the team looks to repeat last year’s success in their Overdrive Toyota Hilux.
Gottschalk said: “The preparation for this season has been intense and extremely precise. We focused on every aspect Dakar demands in terms of concentration and discipline. Our synergy is at its best, and we are ready to manage the rally stage by stage, intending to fight for victory from day one.”
The Dakar Rally 2026, set to run from Jan. 3-17, will cover 7,994 km, with 4,840 km of timed stages across Saudi Arabia’s diverse landscapes. It will consist of 13 competitive stages, in addition to a prologue stage, with a rest day in the capital city. The rally will start and conclude in Yanbu, featuring seven loop stages and two marathon stages, which significantly increase the level of difficulty and place greater physical and technical demands on crews and teams.
Al-Rajhi has also expressed his desire to compete for the title of the World Rally-Raid Championship W2RC. Since the championship’s launch in 2022, he has finished runner-up twice and third overall once, highlighting his consistency at the highest level. The Saudi star said that his clear objective this season is to claim the W2RC title, with Dakar serving as the opening round of the championship.
Al-Rajhi acknowledged that competition this year will be extremely intense, but added that the goal has been clear from the outset: to defend the Dakar title and move forward steadily toward winning the World Rally-Raid Championship.
“Early preparation and attention to the smallest technical and physical details give us strong confidence heading into the rally,” he added. “We know the competition will be tough, but we enter Dakar with a winning mindset, aiming to deliver a complete season that reflects the name of Saudi Arabia and matches our global ambitions.”
Al-Rajhi extended his sincere gratitude and appreciation to Jameel Motorsport, his official partner, for their unwavering support. He credited their backing as one of the key pillars behind his continued success and achievements in the Kingdom.
