BEIJING, 14 May 2005 — As China, South Korea, Indonesia and Denmark prepared for this weekend’s semifinals and finals action, England beat Hong Kong 3-1 yesterday to secure fifth place at the biennial Sudirman Cup.
Sweden, meanwhile, were relegated from the eight-nation division one after losing 3-0 to Thailand. Their spot at the 2007 world mixed team badminton championships will be taken by Malaysia, who beat Japan 3-1 to win promotion.
Today, Group 1A winners Denmark will meet Indonesia, who finished second in Group 1B, in the first semifinal of the 9th Sudirman Cup.
In the second semifinal, four-time champions China have the chance to avenge their 2003 loss to South Korea.
All eyes, however, were yesterday on the clash between Hong Kong and its former colonial masters England at Beijing’s Capital Gymnasium.
Robert Blair and Gail Emms got England off to a perfect start, easily seeing off Ng Wei and Li Wing Mui 15-0, 15-3 in the mixed doubles. Hong Kong, however, hit back in the men’s singles when Agus Hariyanto beat Aamir Ghaffar in a tight three setter.
With the scores tied at 1-1, Tracey Hallam won the psychologically vital third rubber 11-6, 11-8 against Yip Pui Yin in the women’s singles. Doubles duo Anthony Clark and Robert Blair then secured the overall team victory with a 15-6, 15-11 win over Liu Kwok Wa and A.S. Njoto.
“Obviously we were thrilled to have beaten Thailand yesterday to avoid the relegation match and it was just as important to have followed that up with a winning performance today,” said England head coach Andy Wood.
Thailand managed to salvage some pride after Thursday’s disappointment with their 3-0 sweep of Sweden to ensure their place in the top flight of badminton-playing natoins at the 2007 Sudirman Cup in Glasgow.
Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam took the mixed doubles rubber in straight sets, while Boonsak Polsana demolished Hugi Heimirsson 15-5, 15-4 in the men’s singles. His sister Salakjit Polsana scored the winning point, downing Elin Bergblom 11-6, 11-6.
The Group 2 promotion match was a marginally closer affair, and given the recent political tensions between China and Japan, it was hardly surprising that every Japanese mistake was greeted with loud cheers from the crowd. Malaysia opened the scoring courtesy of Wong Choong Hann and Wong Pei Tty in the mixed doubles. Lee Chong Wei added the second point with a 15-3, 15-0 thrashing of Shoji Sato.
Eriko Hirose put Japan on the board with a three-set win in the women’s singles, but Koo Kian Keat and Chan Chong Ming closed out the match in straight sets in the men’s doubles to spark the Malaysian celebrations.
Looking ahead to the weekend’s semifinal action, China head coach Li Yongbo said he was confident his players would continue to produce the goods following their 5-0 sweeps of Sweden, Hong Kong and Indonesia in the round-robin group stage.
Regardless of whether they play Denmark or Indonesia in the final, China are the overwhelming favorites to lift the Sudirman Cup for the fifth time come tomorrow.
