Defending champions China have once again showcased their prowess at the Sudirman Cup. In an electrifying evening in Xiamen, southeast Fujian Province, they beat Thailand 4-1 to top Group A and secure a spot in the knockout rounds. Fans were in for some unforgettable badminton action! 😊
The mixed doubles pair, Feng Yanzhe and Wei Yaxin, set the pace by defeating Thailand's Teeraratsakul Pakkapon and Muenwong Phataimas with scores of 23-21 and 21-11.
Li Shifeng kept the excitement alive in the men's singles match, overcoming Thailand's Wangcharoen Kantaphon in an 85-minute thriller, winning 21-18, 17-21, 21-13. The match had everyone on the edge of their seats!
In the women's singles, world No.2 Wang Zhiyi battled hard against Intanon Ratchanok. Despite a comeback in the second set (21-13 after a 19-21 opening), she eventually lost the decider 21-23. Reflecting on the match, she admitted, "I performed poorly in many ways, which gave my opponent lots of opportunities and confidence. I hope my failure can be transformed into valuable experience."
China continued their dominant run in the doubles events too. In the men's doubles, Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang won comfortably with scores of 21-14, 21-14, while Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning triumphed in the women's doubles, winning 21-11, 21-8.
Over in Group B, four-time champions South Korea bounced back from a men's singles stumble, defeating the Chinese Taipei team 4-1 to secure the top spot in their group.
The Sudirman Cup is proving to be a showcase of intense competition and incredible skill. Stay tuned for more thrilling updates as the knockout rounds heat up! 🔥
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
