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China blitz Sweden in Sudirman Cup opener
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-11 08:22

Badminton powerhouse China launched their Sudirman Cup campaign Tuesday with a 5-0 sweep of Sweden to the delight of the home fans, while defending champions South Korea eased past Thailand with a 4-1 win.


With men's world number one Lin Dan, seen here at the Japan Open badminton tournament in Tokyo, and Athens Olympic women's champion Zhang Ning, the Chinese look unbeatable in the the Sudirman Cup, which begins Tuesday in Beijing. China will be looking to capitalise on home advantage in a bid to reclaim the mixed team badminton championship title they lost to South Korea two years ago. [AFP]

In other Group 1 matches on the opening day of the mixed team championship at Beijing's Capital Gymnasium, Denmark's shuttlers proved too powerful for England, snatching a 3-2 victory, while Indonesia beat Hong Kong 4-1.

China, seeking to reclaim the title they lost in Eindhoven two years ago, got off to a flying start with Chen Qiqui and Zhao Tingting comfortably beating Fredrik Bergstrom and Johanna Persson 15-3, 15-12 in the mixed doubles. 

World number one Lin Dan then cruised past Rasmus Wengberg in the men's singles (15-6, 15-8), while Athens Olympic champion Zhang Ning was simply too strong for Elin Bergblom, winning 11-7, 11-0 in the women's event.

Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun secured the men's doubles rubber (15-5, 15-2), while Gao Ling and Huang Sui ensured the clean sweep with a comprehensive 15-4, 15-4 win in the women's doubles to put the hosts at the top of Group 1B.

Despite the comprehensive nature of their victory, China head coach Li Yongbo said there was room for improvement.

"We didn't play very well but nevertheless we won our matches and as long as we continue to win and adapt to the conditions then we will achieve our goal," he said.

China, who are the overwhelming favourites to lift the Sudirman Cup for the fifth time come Sunday, meet Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Only the eight teams in the elite Group 1, which is split into two sub-groups, have a shot at the title in the ninth edition of this biennial tournament.

Thirty-three other teams are competing for promotion into higher divisions.

Earlier, Lee Jae-Jin and Ra Kyung-Min opened South Korea's Group 1A account with a 15-11, 15-10 mixed doubles win over Thailand's Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam.

Seo Yoon-Hee took the women's singles rubber 13-10, 11-8, while Kim Dong-Moon and Ha Tae-Kwon cruised to a 15-2, 15-2 victory in the men's doubles.

In the women's doubles Lee Kyung-Won and Lee Hyo-Jung proved too powerful for Saralee and Sujitra Ekmongkolpaisarn, winning 15-5, 15-5.

Their only disappointment came in the men's singles where Athens Olympic silver medallist Shon Seung-Mo lost a hard-fought rubber 15-5, 8-15, 16-17 to Boonsak Polsana.

South Korea, who have won the title three times, meet England on Wednesday.

England, meanwhile, were unable to capitalise on their opening win against Denmark in the mixed doubles, losing the men's and women's singles and then the men's doubles before receiving a consolation victory in the mixed doubles.

Danish coach Steen Pedersen said he was pleased with his players' performances and the raucous support offered by the legion of Danish fans.

"We are very happy to get a good start in the Sudirman Cup and we got it today. It was a close match as we had expected," he said.

Denmark, who have never won the Sudirman Cup, meet Thailand on Wednesday.

Indonesia got on the scoreboard first against Hong Kong, taking the opening mixed doubles in their Group 1B clash.

Athens Olympic champion Taufil Hidayat added another point, but Hong Kong hit back when Wang Chen outfought Fransisca Hari 11-8, 11-3 in the women's singles.

Normal service was resumed courtesy of ace men's doubles duo Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto and their female counterparts to secure the overall win.

Indonesia play Sweden on Wednesday.



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