THE primary focus of the national shuttlers is next year’s Beijing Olympics but they will be looking forward to concluding a good run this year by reigning supreme in the US$500,000 (RM1.68 million) Super Series Finals on Dec 18-23.

Although the qualification for the Super Series Finals will be finalised after last four legs — Denmark (Oct 23-28), French (Oct 30-Nov 4), China (Nov 20-25) and Hong Kong (Nov 27-Dec 02) — Malaysia is already assured of two entries in World No 2 men’s singles Lee Chong Wei (pic) and World No 1 men’s doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong.

Chong Wei has so far won two Super Series events — the Indonesia and Japan Opens — while Kien Keat-Boon Heong were victorious in the Malaysia and Swiss Opens as well as the All England.

Chong Wei is also ranked second in the Super Series ranking while Kien Keat-Boon Heong are ranked third but have amassed sufficient points to become one of the top eight qualifiers in their respective events.

Chong Wei appears to be the sole Malaysian in the men’s singles as Hafiz Hashim and Wong Choong Hann are 14th and 16th respectively.

However, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah are in striking distance of qualifying provided they do not slip up in the final four tournaments and maintain or improve on their sixth position.

Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock are also in the top eight as they are ranked No 8 but may lose out as competition rules allow only two players or pairs per country in each event.

This rule will also make life easy for Chong Wei as he only needs to worry about two players from China although there are four — top ranked Lin Dan, third ranked Chen Jin, fourth ranked Bao Chunlai and sixth ranked Chen Yu — in the top eight.

A Lin Dan-Chong Wei final is on the cards as their other rival Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia may not even qualify as he is in 12th position.

Although the breakdown of prize money and venue are yet to be announced by Badminton World Federation (BWF), the men’s singles champion is likely to pocket at least US$40,000 (RM134,600), the highest prize money offered in a badminton event.

However, Malaysia’s best chance of winning a title is in the men’s doubles where Kien Keat-Boon Heong are strong contenders while world champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia and China’s Fu Haifeng-Cai Yun are expected to provide the challenge.

Wong Mew Choo, ranked ninth with Yao Jie of the Netherlands, will qualify for the Super Series finals if the current standing in the women’s singles remains unchanged.

This is because China — who have Xie Xingfang, Zhang Ning, Zhu Lin and Lu Lan in the top eight — can only have two players in the Super Series finals.

Copyright © 2007 NST Online.