It’s back!

The Sands China Ltd. Macau Open Badminton 2024 marks the post-COVID return of the HSBC BWF World Tour to the city.

Here’s what to know about the Super 300 tournament.

• None of the players who won at the last edition in 2019 are present.
• However, four former winners are competing – Tan Wee Kiong (2013 with Hoo Tien How), Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja (2014 with Edi Subaktiar) and Tang Chun Man/Tse Ying Suet (2018).
• Of these, only Tang and Tse are seeded first in their discipline.
• Although they possess the top seeds, Hong Kong China (Lee Cheuk Yiu) and Thailand (Busanan Ongbamrungphan) have never won the respective categories.
• Seeded Ng Ka Long Angus (No.2), Pornpawee Chochuwong (2) and Ratchanok Intanon (3) improve their chances of success in these sectors.
• Similarly, India are yet to ace men’s singles, in which Kidambi Srikanth – playing his first event in four months – is seeded sixth.
• India’s three triumphs have all come in women’s singles, meaning third-seeded women’s pair Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Pullela Gopichand could also make history.
• In-form teenager Tomoka Miyazaki, seed No.4, is Japan’s best bet to end a 22-year dry spell in women’s singles. Toru Matsumoto’s win at the inaugural edition in 2002 remains their solitary strike.
• Indonesia are the sole nation with seeds in all five departments.
• Victory for Putri Kusuma Wardani or Komang Ayu Cahya Dewi will crown the maiden winner from the country in a female category.

Standout Stat: In the last 15 years, only Pusarla V. Sindhu (2013-2015) and Michelle Li (2018-2019) stopped Chinese players from winning women’s singles.