First double gold likely in badminton

Asians are expected to dominate the badminton competition again at the Sydney Olympics next month and there is a chance of a first double gold medallist in the sport, the tournament director said on Wednesday.

South Korea's Kim Dong Moon and China's Ge Fei, both doubles stars, have a chance of two gold medals, competition manager Dennis Morgan said.

"I think we could have a double gold medallist for the first time in badminton. Kim Dong Moon has a good chance," Morgan told Reuters.

Kim became a hero in South Korea after winning a gold in men's doubles in Barcelona in 1992 and another in mixed doubles four years later in Atlanta.

He is also the reigning world champion in men's doubles with Ha Tae Kwon and in mixed doubles with Ra Kyung Min.

Kim and Ra beat close challengers Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan of Indonesia in the Malaysian Open earlier this month.

Another Indonesian duo, defending champions Rexy Mainaky and Ricky Subagja, will also be strong.

Morgan said Ge and her partner Liu Fong also stood a chance in mixed doubles, and Ge and Gu Jun were heavily favoured in women's doubles.

Ge and Gu, who have been playing together for 16 years, took the gold in Atlanta -- outscoring their opponents 150 to 49 -- and in the last two world championships.

"They are in a class of their own," Morgan said.

In addition to the Chinese, South Koreans and Indonesians, players from Denmark, the only other country to have won an Olympic badminton gold, will also challenge in Sydney.

Denmark's Peter Gade Christensen should challenge in the men's singles, although he was expected to lose his world number one ranking to Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat when the next International Badminton Federation rankings are released.

Hidayat should jump to top spot after winning the Malaysian Open, in which the Danes did not compete because of their Olympic preparations.

Morgan said the men's singles was unpredictable and there could be surprises early in the tournament because only the top eight players are seeded, and world champion Sun Jun of China was not in this group.

"So the number one seed could get the world champion in the first round," he said.

Sun, who has beaten Christensen, was selected by China even though he is currently ranked 48 in the world.

Indonesian Hendrawan and China's world number four Xia Xuanze are the other gold medal contenders.

Denmark's Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen became the only non-Asian to win a gold medal in badminton when he knocked off Chinese favourite Dong Jiong in the men's singles in Atlanta.

China's world number one Gong Zichao, Dai Yun and Ye Zhaoying are expected to battle Denmark's Camilla Martin for gold in the women's singles.

Martin, currently ranked number two in the world, upset Dai to take the world title in Copenhagen last year.