Gade, Bao Chunlai start as favourites

Bao Chunlai of China is expected to win it all in Indonesia (Photo credit: Xinhua)Photo Gallery>>After the withdrawals of Lee Chong Wei, Chen Jin, and most surprisingly Taufik Hidayat for his home event, Denmark' s Peter Gade and China's Bao Chunlai are the favourites for the men's singles title at Djarum Indonesia Open which begins today.

No matter what, there will be a new name on the Indonesia Open winners list. All previous winners have retired, withdrawn or skipped the event. The title holder Lee Chong Wei's absence is no surprise as the top seed had hinted last week that he would skip the event in case of a good outing in Singapore Open.

Chong Wei beat Indonesia's Simon Santoso to win the Singapore Open crown on Sunday.

Lee Hyun Il, a winner in 2005, has also skipped the event but the biggest surprise of the day was the announcement of Taufik's withdrawal, winner here in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006.

With Chen Jin's absence as well