Japan outplayed defending champions China 3-0 in the final of the Badminton Asia Team Championships at the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium here today. In what was a repeat of last year’s Asia Team Championships final, Japan were on fire today as they swept past their rivals.
Japan got off to a flying start when Akane Yamaguchi laoured past Chen Yufei 21-16, 12-21, 21-14. They doubled the score when Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi defeated Du Yue-Li Yinhui 21-13, 21-16 in 42 mins.
In the third match, former All England champion Nozomi Okuhara sealed a lopsided victory when she worked her way past He Bingjiao 19-21, 21-16, 21-10 in just over an hour.
Japan and China made the final after defeating Indonesia and South Korea in the semifinals yesterday. The men’s team final will take place later this evening.
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WOMEN’S FINAL RESULTS
Japan bt China 3-0
Akane bt Chen Yufei 21-16, 12-21, 21-14 (57 mins)
Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi bt Du Yue-Li Yinhui 21-13, 21-16 (42 mins)
Nozomi Okuhara bt He Bingjiao 19-21, 21-16, 21-10 (66 mins)
Did not play
Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota vs Cao Tong Wei-Zheng Yu
Sayaka Sato vs Gao Fangjie
