Singapore begin their inaugural Robot Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships 2017 against second seed Korea on Tuesday at the Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. They have been handed a tough draw in Group D as they will also be facing a strong Indian contingent on Wednesday in their second and final group game.
The Asian minnows have fielded a young side and are up for a tough test against the Korean team, which has the likes of world number three Women's singles shuttler Sung Ji Hyun in their ranks.
For Singapore, world number 259 Zin Rei Ryan will feature in the Men's singles category and will take on world number 43 Jeon Hyeok Jin in what will be the third match of the day. The teenager, who bowed out of Malaysia Masters in the opening round, will find it difficult against the Korean, who has more experience of playing at the senior level.
Tie: Singapore v Korea
Date: 14 February, Tuesday
Time: 8pm SGT/5:30pm IST/12pm GMT
Venue: Main Location 3, Nguyen Du Cultural Sport Club, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Competition: Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships 2017
TV Channel: There is no live TV coverage in Singapore.
Live scores of the matches can be found here.
The Korean combination of world number one mixed doubles player Kim Ha Naa and veteran Yoo Yeon Seong should are also likely to have it easy against their Singapore opponents Wei Han Tan/Danny Bawa Christina.
Onus will be on the Singapore's Men's doubles team Kean Hean Loh and Yong Kai Terry to snatch their team a point as they are favourites to beat Korea's Solgyu Choi and Kim Gi Jung. The world number 46 pair of Loh and Terry, who started the season by reaching the quarter-final of Malaysia Masters but faced early exits at Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold and Thailand Masters, will be hoping to make a mark in Vietnam.
Team News
Singapore Line-up: Zin Rei Ryan Ng (Men's singles), Hui Zhen Grace Chua (Women's singles), Yong Kai Terry Hee/Kean Hean Loh (Men's Doubles), Ren-Ne Ong/ Jia Ying Crystal Wong (Women's doubles), Danny Bawa Chrisnanta/Wei Han Tan (Mixed Doubles)
Korea Line-up: Jeon Hyeok Jin (Men' singles), Sung Ji Hyun (Women's singles), Choi Solgyu/Kim Gi Jung (Men's doubles), Chang Na Ye/Lee Hee So (Women's doubles), Ki Na Ha/Yoo Yeon Seong (Mixed Doubles)
TV Schedule [Available from quarter-final]
Singapore: Eleven Sports
Malaysia: Astro Supersport 4
India: Star Sports
