By Rizal Abdullah
Mighty China marched into the semi-finals in the first Robot Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam with an easy 3-0 over Malaysia in the quarter-finals.
China took the first point through Chen Qingchen-Zhang Nan in the mixed doubles, taking only 28 minutes in their 21-14, 21-9 win over Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie.
Lim Chi Wing was no match for Shi Yuqi in the men’s singles as the Chinese ace romped to 21-7, 21-14 in 32 minutes for China’s second point.
Malaysia, however, did offer some resistance in the men’s doubles but Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin could not stop Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen from winning the 49 minute battle 19-21, 22-20, 21-10 for the winning point.
China team manager Ding, however, warned that “it will be tough playing Japan” in Saturday’s semi-finals.
“We will win no doubt but it won’t be an easy ride. China have come here to be the first winners of the trophy,” said Ding.
In another late quarter-final tie South Korea also romped to a 3-0 win over Taiwan reach the last four. The Koreans will face Thailand in the semi-finals.
Japan came back from 2-0 down to snatch a 3-2 win over Indonesia while Thailand also staged a strongly rally to beat India 3-2.
Indonesia won the men’s doubles through Angga Pratama-Ricky Karanda Suwardi who stunned Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda 22-20, 12-21, 21-14 and increased their tally to 2-0 through Hanna Ramadini in the women’s singles with an upset 21-18, 23-21 win over Sayaka Sato.
Japan started their fightback in the men’s singles with Kenta Nishimoto notching a 21-15, 21-16 win over Muhammad Bayu Pangisthu. Rio Olympic champions Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi, the world No 1, won 21-14, 21-13 against Anggia Shitta Awanda-Tiara Rosaila Nuraidah in the women’s doubles to make it 2-2.
Then came the clincher from Japan’s youngsters Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino who beat Edi Subaktiar-Annisa Saufika 21-16, 21-17 in 42 minutes.
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS (Thurs 17 Feb)
JAPAN 3 INDONESIA 2
(Japan first)
MS: Kenta Nishimoto beat Muhammad Bayu Pangisthu 21-15, 21-16
WS: Sayaka Sato lost to Hanna Ramadini 18-21, 21-23
MD: Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda lost to Angga Pratama-Ricky Karanda Suwardi 20-22, 21-17, 14-21
WD: Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi beat Anggia Shitta Awanda-Tiara Rosalia Nuraidah 21-14, 21-13
XD: Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino beat Edi Subaktiar-Annisa Saufika 21-16, 21-17
THAILAND 3 INDIA 2
(Thailand first)
MS: Suppanyu Avihingsanon lost to H. S. Prannoy 18-21, 15-21
WS: Pornpawee Chochuwong beat Rituparna Das 11-21, 21-12, 21-15
MD: Kittinupong Kedren-Nipitphon Phuangphuapet lost to Manu Attri-B. Sumeeth Reddy 19-21, 16-21
WD: Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai beat Ashwini Ponnappa-N. Sikki Reddy 15-21, 21-17, 21-7
XD: Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Savitree Amitrapai beat Pranaav Jerry Chopra-N. Sikki Reddy 23-25, 21-10, 21-10
KOREA 3 TAIWAN 0
(Korea first)
MS: Son Wan-ho beat Chou Tieng Chen 21-19, 21-7
WS: Sung Ji-hyun beat Chiang Mei Hui 21-6, 21-14
MD: Kim Gi-jung-Yoo Yeon Seong beat Lee Jhe-huei-Lee Yang 19-21, 21-16, 21-18
CHINA 3 MALAYSIA 0
(China first)
MS: Shi Yuqi beat Lim Chi Wing 21-7, 21-14
MD: Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen beat Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin 19-21, 22-20, 21-0
XD: Chen Qingchen-Zhang Nan beat Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie 21-14, 21-9
