LI XUERUI
Born: Chongqing, 24 January 1991
Li Xuerui is currently (week 10/2012) No.5 of women's singles division at the BWF World Ranking, and ranked 6th at the BWF Superseries. The victory she gained today at the NIA must be very special, not only the first All England title for her, but also cracking the great wall of
Wang Yihan, the one she has given nothing but nightmare in 4 meetings, updating the head-to-head stand to 1-4. Li is now surely on the course of the 2012 Olympic Games qualifiers with her consistent display. The success at the 2012 All England followed her wonderful performance at the
German Open Grand Prix Gold.
Road to All England 2012 champions
Round 32 v Sindhu P.V. 21-16 21-13
Round 16 v Maria Febe Kusumastuti 21-14 21-17
Quarterfinals v Hsiao Ma Pai 21-19 24-22
Semifinals v Sayaka Sato 21-18 12-21 21-6
Final v Wang Yihan 21-13 21-15
Games (won-lost) : 10-1
LILIYANA NATSIR/TONTOWI AHMAD
Born: Manado/Banyumas, 9 September 1985/18 July 1987
The delight must be overloaded due to the more than three decades of Indonesian drought of the mixed doubles title of the All England. Liliyana/Tontowi end the misery and follow the foot-steps of the legendary Imelda Wiguno/Christian Hadinata who won the title in 1979. Their achievement at Birmingham this year becomes the first ever Superseries Premier title since these pairs have established. In addition, Indonesia may now go back on track after rare prestigious winning in the last couple years.
Road to All England 2012 champions
Round 32 v Lim Yin Loo/Ong Jian Guo 18-21 21-8 21-19
Round 16 v He Hanbin/Yixin Bao 21-11 21-18
Quarterfinals v Jenny Wallwork/Nathan Robertson 21-19 15-21 21-17
Semifinals v Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying 27-25 21-16
Final v Kamilla Rytter Juhl/Thomas Laybourn 21-17 21-19
Games (won-lost) : 10-2
TIAN QING/ZHAO YUNLEI
Born : 19 August 1986/25 August 1986
The world No.2 must be curious with their Chinese counterparts who have seemed invincible. With the richness of experience during her partnership with Du Jing, Yu Yang has managed to produce a strong pair with Wang Xiaoli. But, entering in the final match as the reigning champions has proven more difficult. Tian/Zhao showed a perfect shape by outclassing the more favorites in straight game. The women's doubles title to some extent has relieved Zhao's wound after failing to reach the top with her mixed pair, Zhang Nan with sudden exit in the first round. The Chinese second seeds are the perfect winners for not losing any single game, and without game's tie-break, at the current All England championships.
Road to All England 2012 champions
Round 32 v Chin Eei Hui/Wong Pei Tty 21-17 21-14
Round 16 v Jwala Gutta/Ashwini Ponnappa 21-10 21-15
Quarterfinals v Christinna Pedersen/Kamilla Rytter Juhl 21-17 21-13
Semifinals v Ha Jung-eun/Kim Min-jung 21-19 21-19
Final v Wang Xiaoli/Yu Yang 21-17 21-12
Games (won-lost) : 10-0
JUNG JAE-SUNG/LEE YONG-DAE
Born : Jeonju, 25 August 1982/Hwasun, 11 September 1988
A great momentum for Jung Jae-sung, dating back his past days with lots of rest due to injury. The final match against the archrivals
Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng, as always, was amazing and both pairs needed to play the third game to find the deciders. Jung/Lee's success means that China must wait for another year to see them winning the All England men's doubles title since Cai/Fu's victory in 2009.
Road to All England 2012 champions
Round 32 v Goh V Shem/Teo Kok Siang 21-10 21-11
Round 16 v Chris Adcock/Andrew Ellis 21-13 21-15
Quarterfinals v Hong Wei/Shen Ye 21-15 21-15
Semifinals v Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen 21-14 21-13
Final v Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng 21-23 21-9 21-14
Games (won-lost) : 10-1
LIN DAN
Born : Fujian, 14 October 1983
What a quite lucky situation for Lin Dan as his biggest rival, Lee Chong Wei, resisted to continue the second game due to injury. The men's singles final, as well as the ultimate event of the 2012 All England Superseries Premier, should have been the best display of the tournament. Indeed, Lin and Lee had shown it in the second game before the Malaysian superstar called the umpire that he could not complete the match. The 'Super Dan''s success put him equal to Ralph F. Nichols, winning 5 All England titles in men's singles, and prevents LCW from making a hat-trick.
Road to All England 2012 champions
Round 32 v Ajay Jayaram 21-18 21-15
Round 16 v Chong Wei Feng 21-13 21-16
Quarterfinals v Taufik Hidayat 21-18 21-8
Semifinals v Kenichi Tago 21-18 21-17
Final v Lee Chong Wei 21-19 6-2 (LCW retired)
Games (won-lost) : 9-0 (1 game not counted)
Past winners (2011):
MS Lee Chong Wei, WS Wang Shixian, MD Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen, WD Wang Xiaoli/Yu Yang, XD Xu Chen/Ma Jin
