Momota, Naraoka & world champions among stars to feature at BATC

With the BATC (Feb 13-18) offering priceless Olympic ranking points, most of the 15 competing teams are set to send out formidable line-ups.

Japan have surprisingly listed their world number six Kodai Naraoka to also feature in this team meet alongside Momota, who is set to be a crowd puller.

Despite dropping to 39 on the world rankings, the two-time world champion can still spring a surprise and is well received among Malaysian fans.

Momota has only played once on the World Tour this year at the recent Indonesia Masters where he lost in the qualifying round.

Japan’s female team consists of their world number six women’s doubles pair Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida and former world number one Nozomi Okuhara, who is finding her way back to form following a long injury layoff.

South Korea are only sending their men’s team, but it is a strong line-up especially in the men’s doubles with world champions Seo Seung-jae-Kang Min-hyuk and Kim Won-ho set to come.

The Chinese Taipei men’s team who are in the same group as Malaysia will consist of reigning Olympic champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi-lin, with Lin Chun-yi as their highest ranked men’s singles shuttler to contend against Lee Zii Jia.

India, like Malaysia, will send their strongest teams for the men and women’s teams that includes H.S.Prannoy, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty and P.V.Sindhu.

Malaysia, who are defending champions in the men’s category will consist of Zii Jia, Ng Tze Yong and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik among the notable names.

Besides Chinese Taipei, the men’s team also have Kazakhstan and Brunei for company.

The women’s team led by Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah will have Thailand and the United Arab Emirates in their group.