Flood of seeds back out of Malaysia GP Gold

The 2013 Yonex Sunrise Malaysia Grand Prix Gold kicks off today in Kuala Lumpur, right in the middle of the nation’s general election campaign.  The badminton event got a last-minute change of venue, from Kuantan to Kuala Lumpur, on account of the election.

When men’s singles main draw action begins early this afternoon, however, it will be without top seed Lee Chong Wei and also minus no fewer than four Indonesian shuttlers, all among the top 8 seeds.  With these late withdrawals of Lee and Sony Dwi Kuncoro, Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka, Simon Santoso, and Tommy Sugiarto, the only three top-8 seeds remaining are Liew Daren [3], Chong Wei Feng [4], and Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk [7].  Chong and Saensomboonsuk are both playing in the same quarter of the draw.

Also withdrawn, though from the qualifying rounds, is Chinese teen sensation Xue Song, who has had three high-profile runner-up finishes recently, including the Australian Open, New Zealand Open, and the World Junior Championships.

Most other draws seem to be intact and Malaysia will be particularly hopeful in the doubles events, where they have the top seeds in men’s and mixed doubles and Vivian Hoo and Woon Khe Wei start as second seeds in the women’s doubles.

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