China opens title defense with a bang
GLASGOW, Scotland: China won all 10 games and overwhelmed a weakend Thailand 5-0 in 2 1/2 hours on Monday to kick-off the defense of its Sudirman Cup title at the Scotstoun International Sports Arena.
England won all of its doubles matches to overcome the losses in both singles and defeat Malaysia 3-2, and next faced China in the world mixed team badminton championships yesterday.
In Group B, Kenneth Jonassen and Tine Rasmussen won their singles matches and Denmark beat Hong Kong 3-2 while Lee Hyo-jung won both her women's and mixed doubles matches to pace South Korea over Indonesia 3-2.
Chinese coach Li Yongbo said he selected his strongest line-up for his opening match.
Zheng Bo and Gao Ling defeated Songphon Anugritayawon and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul 21-13, 21-12 in mixed doubles to start China's rout and Xie Xingfang, ranked second in the world, added a 21-11, 21-9 win over Soratja Chansrisukot in women's singles.
Men's world champion Lin Dan assured victory when he beat Poompat Sapkulchananart 21-10 21-11, and victories in the mens and womens doubles completed the domination.
China's Cai Yun (left) and Fu Haifeng compete against Thailand on day one of the Sudirman Cup team badminton championships on Monday in Glasgow. Reuters |
Li Yongbo, head coach of the Chinese team, described China's winning start as "just so-so" because China were playing against a weakened Thai team.
Li added that Thailand should not have fielded a reserve team.
"It's a pity that Thailand have lost such a good opportunity to play against the strongest team," he said.
But despite their easy win over Thailand, Li, who has brought his strongest squad, told reporters he was taking nothing for granted.
"It's hard to defend the title. We have to prepare very well."
Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms gave England an early lead, beating second-ranked mixed doubles pair Tan Wee Kiong and Woon Khe Wei 18-21, 21-16, 21-16.
Lee Chong Wei and Wong Mew Choo won their singles encounters to put Malaysia in front, but mens doubles tandem Anthony Clark and Robert Blair beat second-ranked Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong 18-21, 21-16, 21-16.
But the best was saved till last when Emms and Donna Kellogg saved three match points in clawing their way to a 22-20, 18-21, 23-21 victory over Wong Pei Tty and Eei Huin Chin.
"That was amazing," England coach Ian Wright said. "But there's great team spirit in the squad. We will going flat out against China. If you want to be the best you have to compete with the best and that's what we aim to do."
Regardless of the outcome of yesterday's match, an England victory over Thailand tomorrow can earn them a place in the semifinals for the first time.
In other action in the elite group, Indonesia's Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat earned a 21-12 24-22 win over South Korea's Park Sung-hwan but the Koreans won the tie 3-2.
Denmark beat Hong Kong 3-2 but face a stiffer task against the Indonesians on Tuesday.
The Sudirman Cup features 48 countries in six divisions with the eight elite teams in the top division battling for places in Saturday's semi-finals.
Asian countries have won all previous editions of the tournament, which dates back to 1989, with the Chinese triumphing five times.
Agencies
(China Daily 06/13/2007 page24)
