Irish Open draws bumper entry

A record total of 265 players from 26 nations have entered the Irish Badminton Open taking place at Baldoyle Badminton Centre from December 6-9. The 109 edition of the World ranking event.

Top men's seed is Malaysian player Chun Seang Tan, currently ranked No 34 in the world. Also entered is Malaysia's former world No 19 Kuan Beng Hong. Leading the home entry is Irish No 1 Scott Evans.

In the women's draw Germany's Karin Schnaase tops the seedings, with Ireland's Chloe Magee also tipped to do well.

A strong entry in the men's doubles includes Jacco Arends and Jelle Maas from the Netherlands and world silver medal Robert Blair fromScotland who will play with Tan Ben Shen from Malaysia.

An exciting local pairing sees former European junior oubles champion Sam Magee joining forces with world junior No 10 Johny Dolan from Sligo, who reached the men's singles quarter-finals at the recent World Championships in China.

French pair Audrey Fontaine and Emilie Lefel lead the entry for the women's doubles, while in mixed doubles, Sam Magee and Chloe Magee are perhaps the best chance of a home victory.

At the China Open earlier today, the Magees put up a great battle against Ki Jung Kim and So Young Kim of Korea in the opening round of the mixed doubles. They narrowly lost the opening set 21-23, took the second 21-27, but faded to lose the third 9-21. It was still an encouraging show from the Magees, who only paired up at the start of the season.

Chloe Magee was also playing in the women's singles qualifier where she went out to Den Xuan of China 18-21, 13-21.
Li Nig China Open, Shanghai - Irish results

Women's singles qualifier - Rd 1: C Magee lost to Den Xuan (China) 18-21, 13-21.

Mixed doubles - Rd 1: S Magee/Cmagee lost to KJ Kim/SY Kim (Kor) 21-23, 21-17, 9-21.