China beat champion Japan 5-0 in Thomas Cup badminton

China easily beat defending champion Japan 5-0 in their final Group A badminton match on Wednesday, while Denmark, looking for its maiden Thomas Cup title, won Group D with a 3-2 victory against Taiwan.

Japan felt the absence of Kento Momota as China, which had already qualified for the quarterfinals, topped its group with its third successive victory, which included wins by Lin Dan and Chen Long.

For Denmark, Viktor Axelsen breezed past Chou Tien Chen 21-16, 21-13 before Mads Conrad-Petersen paired with Mads Pieler Kolding to beat Lee Sheng Mu and Tsai Chia Hsin 22-20, 21-9 and give a 2-0 lead to already qualified Denmark.

Taiwan, which finished second in the group and also qualified for the quarterfinals, pulled one back through Hsu Jen Hao’s 13-21, 21-16, 21-19 victory over Jan O Jorgensen in a marathon match which lasted 79 minutes.

Mathias Boe and Mathias Christiansen then earned Denmark a decisive 3-1 lead when they beat Wang Chi-Lin and Chen Hung Ling 21-17, 19-21, 21-17.

“We all knew how important it was to win this match and top the group,” said Christiansen. “It was about keeping our heads cool and we did that and managed to do well in the last few rallies.”

Wang Tzu Wei reduced the margin for Taiwan, beating Hans Kristian Vittinghus in a thrilling 21-13, 19-21, 25-23 win.

New Zealand, already out of the quarterfinal race from Group D, got a consolation win when it beat South Africa 4-1 in its last group match.

 

 

SOURCE: PTI