Japan thrash China to advance to final in Thomas Cup
Bernama
May 23, 2014 22:15 MYT
May 23, 2014 22:15 MYT
SWIFT: Japan's Kenichi Tago plays a return to France opponent Brice Leverdez during their Thomas Cup badminton quarter-final match at Siri Fort Stadium in New Delhi, India on Wednesday. - AFP Photo/Sajjad Hussain
Japan thrashed defending champions China 3-0, breaking the latter's five-year straight consecutive wins of the Thomas Cup at the Siri Fort Stadium here Friday.
Japan's men's first singles Kenichi Tago defeated world number two, Chen Long in straight sets of 21-13, 21-11.
Their firsts double Kenichi Hayakama/Hiroyuki Endo then sent Chai Biao/Hong Wei packing in 22-20, 21-19 under an hour.
Japan did not wait long to secure their berth in the final when their second singles, Kento Momota kept the team's momentum going by beating his opponent, Du Pengyu, 23-25, 21-18, 21-14.
China first entered the Thomas Cup fray in 1984 and have been the team to beat ever since.
They won the tournament in their very first appearance and have gone on to win nine titles and two runners-up finish.
China's women's team nevertheless salvaged the country's pride by beating South Korea 3-0 en route to the Uber Cup final.
In the other Thomas Cup semifinal, Malaysia faces off Indonesia while for the Uber Cup, India meets Japan to see who will play China. Both the matches are played at 6pm local time (8.30pm Malaysian time).