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.
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
