China, Denmark march on for Uber Cup showdown

China, Denmark march on for Uber Cup showdown

Kuala Lumpur, May 15: Defending champions China and European pretenders to their throne Denmark continued their fine form for an Uber Cup title showdown as the two powerhouses topped their respective groups and avoided each other in the semis of the World team women's badminton championship.

Favourites China easily thrashed a weakened South Korean side 5-0 to top Group B at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil here on Monday.

As for Denmark, who raced to a 3-0 lead against Japan then took it easy before winning 3-2 to top Group A.

European champions Denmark now will take on South Korea in the first semi-finals on Wednesday while China meet Indonesia, the 1996 champions and 1998 runners-up, in the other semis.

South Korea, who have already qualified for the semi-finals from Group B, rested all their best players and fielded only four players who played in both singles and doubles on Monday's final group tie.

The decision by the Korean team management to rest their best players was an expected part of their strategy especially since they are meeting second-seeded Denmark.

In contrast, China fielded their best. World No 2 Gong Zhichao opened with an 11-3 11-4 victory over Si Jin Sun, ranked 117th in the World, in just 17 minutes.

Dai Yun then whipped Jung Yeon-kyung 11-3 11-2 while Gong Ruina demolished Kim So-yeon 11-3 11-2.

Gao Ling and Qin Yiyuan thrashed Si Jin Sun ans Lee Hyo-Jung 15-5 15-8 while World champions Ge Fei and Gu Jun defeated Jung Yeon and Kyung Kim and So Yeon 15-2 15-6.

``I'm confident our team can win the Uber Cup,'' China coach Li Yongbo said after his side secured the win.

Denmark emulated the Chinese feat of winning their group by blowing away Japan but they too decided to take it easy after the score stood 3-0.

World champion Camilla Martin defeated Yasuko Mizui 11-3 11-1 in just 18 minutes before the skilful doubles pair of Helene Kirkegaard and Rikke Olsen overpowered Yoshiko Iwata and Haruko Matsuda 15-7 15-3 in 20 minutes.

Mette Sorensen gave the Danes an unbeatable lead in the match in the third rubber, tormenting and teasing Takako Ida with some superbly executed drop shots on her way to an 11-3 11-1 win in 15 minutes.

The veteran pair of Majken Vange and Pernille Harder played well below their best but still stretched Chikako Nakayama and Naomi Murakami to three games before losing 15-8 4-15 14-17.

INDIA PLAY KOREA: South Korea have had clean record so far, while minnows India are playing for pride when the two teams meet in the final league clash in the world team badminton championship here on Tuesday.

The match has no consequence with Korea already making it to the semi-finals, but nevertheless expected to be an interesting affair.

South Korea have promised not to take it easy against India. Any slip or shock to India could well see South Korea having to play Indonesia, surely a side they do not want to meet as early as the semi-finals.

As for India they are already out of the tournament having lost 1-4 to Malaysia and 0-5 to Denmark. But they hope to build on their fighting display as they gave the Malaysians a run for their money in all the five matches.

``We had already lost to South Korea in the qualifying rounds in New Delhi in March and I expect them to beat us again,'' said Indian team leader Dilip Ghosh. ``But it does not mean we are just going to give away the points just like that. We are a young side and we want to learn as much as we can for the future.''

SEMI-FINAL LINE-UP

China vs Indonesia
Denmark vs Korea