Sudirman Cup all about second place

HONG KONG: It is a measure of China's supreme domination of world badminton that the real interest in the upcoming 2009 Sudirman Cup is not about who will win the prestigious tournament, but who will come second.

The world team championships, which take place every two years, start Sunday in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou with the hosts virtually guaranteed to lift the trophy for a seventh time in front of a partisan crowd.

Including China, 34 sides are taking part, but the structure of the mixed teams event is such that only eight of them can win the trophy, with the rest playing for points and national pride, but no money.