The Chinese men’s and women’s badminton teams have both secured their places in the quarter-finals of the Thomas & Uber Cup as group leaders, following decisive victories over South Korea and India.
In the men’s Thomas Cup, China faced a challenging match against South Korea but emerged victorious with a 3-2 win. Despite setbacks in the doubles matches, China’s singles players delivered strong performances to ensure the team’s advancement at the top of Group A.
World No. 2 Shi Yuqi overcame a first-game loss against South Korea’s Jeon Hyeok-jin, rallying to win 14-21, 21-17, 21-7. Although the doubles pair Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang were defeated by Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae, singles player Li Shifeng dominated Lee Yun-gyu in straight games. In a thrilling decider, Lu Guangzu secured the win for China by defeating Woo Seung-hoon 21-10, 21-15.
On the women’s side, China showcased their dominance by sweeping India 5-0 within three hours, continuing their flawless performance without dropping a single game since the tournament began. This victory places them at the top of Group A, with defending champions South Korea leading Group D after a 5-0 triumph over Denmark.
In other men’s fixtures, Denmark’s world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen defeated Malaysia’s former Asian champion Lee Zii Jia 21-16, 24-22, guiding Denmark to the quarter-finals as Group D leaders.
The championships, held in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, mark the 33rd edition of the Thomas Cup and the 30th edition of the Uber Cup. Each tournament features 16 teams divided into four groups, with matches taking place from April 27 to May 5.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
