Learn these fascinating information about the Super 500 LI-NING Hong Kong Open 2024.

• Just six seeded players across the five departments have had previous success – Jonatan Christie, Tai Tzu Ying, Seo Sung Jae, Guo Xin Wa, Wei Ya Xin and Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen.
• Glory for Guo or Wei will make them the first player in 14 years to win the same doubles event consecutively with different partners. Fellow Chinese Wang Xiaoli achieved the feat in women’s doubles (2009: Ma Jin, 2010: Yu Yang).
• Paris 2024 Olympic Games gold medallist Viktor Axelsen will expand the Danish men’s singles winners list by replicating the country’s solitary strike via Peter Gade in 1997.
• If Christie keeps his crown, he will become first back-to-back men’s singles king since Lee Chong Wei in 2010. It is the longest category not to see a holder defend his title.
• Christie also stands to emulate Hariyanto Arbi, the last Indonesian to win the event consecutive times in 1995.
• Indonesia are yet to produce a champion in women’s singles, in which they possess fourth seed Gregoria Mariska Tunjung.
• Likewise, Malaysia have never witnessed a women’s doubles titlists but can count on third seeds Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan this time.
• They have also not had success in men’s and mixed doubles since 1999. Cheah Soon Kit/Yap Kim Hock and Chan Chong Ming/Joanne Quay triumphed back then.
• This year, they have two seeded pairs in men’s doubles and three in mixed doubles.
• Another powerhouse country waiting for a winner in a department are Japan – men’s singles remains blank on their honours list.
• However, Japan are the sole nation to celebrate podium toppers at the last three Hong Kong Opens.
• Korea have three seeded pairs in women’s doubles, which they have not won after 1997 (Chung Jae Hee/Ra Kyung Min).
• If she bags a fourth title, top seed Tai Tzu Ying will emerge the most successful women’s singles player.
• She is also the only former winner of the discipline competing this edition.

Standout stat: Chinese women’s pairs have won 16 of the 20 editions starting 1998 – highest hit rate of 80 per cent across the five categories in that period.