Report and pictures by Raphael Sachetat

Last year’s edition of the Holland Plazahad crowned Asian winners in all categories. This week in Den Bosch, the Netherlands, European players will try do better and take some of the titles in the 3* star IBF Grand Prix event.

But the Chinese, who took 4 out of 5 trophies last year, will have something to say about that….

The Germanwas just the beginning. Only two days after the end of the 2* event held in Duisburg, the Dutchis on its way, with some interesting challenges ahead. The first one will be for the European players to try to cope with the talent of the Asians. Last year, Xia Xuanze and Tang Chunyu from China proved Chinese superiority in the singles events. Tang will be here to defend her title but she will have to play Marina Andrievskaya in the first round. But other contestants have in mind to take her throne.

The Dutch girls, for instance, with Mia Audina on top of the list as the first seed will try to honour her 5th spot in the world ranking. Judith Meulendijks, also seeded, and Brenda Beenhakker (pictured) who had a very good week at the Germanwill also try to bring their flag to the top. Mia Audina has a tough first round against Japan''s Miho Tanaka, world number 27. With 7 players in the world Top 20, the women''s singles event looks like it isn’t going to be easy for anyone. Zhou Mi and Gong Ruina from China will also be strong outsiders as is second seed Kelly Morgan of Wales who will play home girl Karina De Wit on Wednesday.

In the men’s event, Richard Vaughan and Anders Boesen are seeded 1 and 2, as they were last week. They will try to do better than in Duisburg, where Chen Yu and Agus Hariyanto put an end to their quests for victory. Last week’s winner Druzchenko has gone back home to Ukraine and some other contestants have entered the Dutchdraw, among which are Chen Hong of China and the tall Swede Thomas Johansson. Chen will play Oliver Pongratz in the first round.

In the men doubles events, most seeded spots are taken by European teams, with a very strong Danish delegation. They had dominated last week’s doubles events, yet another two strong pairs from Denmark have come to challenge them: Eriksen/Larsen, first seed and Lundgaard/Paaske. Simon Archer and Nathan Robertson (pictured) will try to place the Union Jack flag on top of the Danish one with their second seed spot and after their recent withdrawal from the German

The same situation in women''s and mixed doubles, where Denmark has sent its best teams. Rikke Olsen takes the first spot in both events, partnering Michael Sogaard and Helene Kirkegaard. They could be challenged by home girls Nicole Van Hooren and Lotte Jonathans in the lower part of the draw. The Dutch girls will take on a Chinese pair for starters.

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