altFEBRUARY 16 - THERE is a star-studded entry for the 99th Yonex All England Badminton Championships in Birmingham next month, including four players who won Olympics in Beijing last year.

 

The entry for the first Super Series event of the year in Europe, to be held at the National Indoor Arena from March 3 to 8,  is led by world champion Lin Dan, who was men’s singles runner-up last year, will be back to bid for his fourth All England title in six years.

 

It also includes Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia will be out to add the All England men’s doubles title to their Olympic gold and 2007 world title.

 

In the women’s doubles China’s Olympic winners Du Jing and Yu Yang will be aiming to improve on their runners-up spot in Birmingham last year but they will once against be up against defending champions Lee Hyo Jung and Lee Kyung Won.

 

In the mixed doubles Lee Yong Dae and Lee Hyo Jung, the Korean pair who defeated Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms on the way to the OIympic mixed title, will be the pair to beat although double world champions and Olympic silver medallists Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia will be among those out to stop them.

 

There is quality throughout the tournament.

 

Denmark’s world number one Tine Rasmussen will be defending her women’s singles title and will be up against world champion Zhu Lin of China.

 

Her Danish team-mate, the 1999 All England winner Peter Gade, will come to Birmingham fresh from his resurgent Korean Open final victory over world number one Lee Chong Wei, who has never been beyond the semi-finals in Birmingham.

 

But last year’s men’s singles winner Chen Jin will be another to watch in the men’s singles where England’s world number 21 Andrew Smith.

 

Two-time National champion Rajiv Ouseph will have to qualify, such is the strength of the men’s entry.

 

In the mixed doubles Zheng Bo, winner in 2007 and 2008 with Gao Ling, will try for another title with new partner Ma Jin.

 

Darren Parks, the tournament director, said: “We couldn’t have wished for a stronger entry.

 

"It’s a great chance to see the England and GB players test themselves against the best of the rest.”

 

To view the complete event-by-event entries check out www.worldbadminton.net.