Son Wan-ho led South Korea in dashing the Chinese men’s dream of reclaiming the Thomas Cup late on Thursday, upsetting the tournament favorites in a shocking 3-1 quarter-final upset in Kunshan.
China were forced to fight back from a deficit early at the world badminton championship after top-ranked Chen Long dropped a nail-biting 1 hour, 27 minute match to ninth-ranked Son.
“He did well and was more patient today,” Chen told reporters following the 12-21, 21-16, 15-21 loss. “I didn’t do well because I think too much.”
Photo: AFP
China’s troubles only deepened when South Korea’s Lee Yong-dae and Yoo Yeon-seong unleashed repeated blitzing attacks to beat Fu Haifeng and Zhang Nan in a three-game thriller.
Badminton legend Lin Dan briefly lifted the Chinese fans’ spirits with a 21-10, 21-15 win.
However, momentum appeared firmly against the home team. South Korea’s Kim Gi-jung and Kim Sa-rang made it official and clinched a spot in the semi-finals with a straight sets triumph in the face of dogged resistance from China’s Li Junhui and Zheng Siwei.
“Our players tried their best, but they lost. It’s unfortunate,” badminton fan Hai Yanwong said, as fellow partisans hissed and shouted at the result — with one weeping fan escorted out by security.
South Korea were to face Indonesia in the semi-finals yesterday.
In the women’s Uber Cup, China appeared indomitable as they marched into the semi-finals, pummeling Taiwan 3-0.
World No. 3 Li Xuerui led the charge out of the gate and breezed past Taiwan’s Pai Yu-po 21-14, 21-17.
Wang Shixian kept up the momentum, walloping Hsu Ya-ching 21-16, 21-12, while doubles duo Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei completed the sweep in straight sets in 32 minutes.
In earlier play, Lee Chong Wei led Malaysia into the Thomas Cup semis, while there was Uber Cup heartbreak for Ratchanok Intanon as Thailand crashed out against India.
Lee, the world No. 2, kick-started Malaysia’s effort with whipping overheads and delicate, cross-court drop shots as he beat Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-18.
Afterward, Lee brushed off suggestions that pressure was mounting on Malaysia’s men as they seek to end their 24-year drought at the Thomas Cup.
“A win for today and then I’ll focus on tomorrow,” said Lee, who is eyeing a maiden Olympic title in Rio de Janeiro in August last year.
Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin thrashed Hsu Jen-hao before doubles team Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong won the decisive match as Malaysia clinched it 3-1.
Malaysia will face the tournament’s second seed Denmark in the semi-finals, after the Danes earned a dramatic 3-2 win over Japan late on Thursday.
Indonesia also reached the Thomas Cup semis thanks to strong singles performances from Tommy Sugiarto and Jonatan Christie as they sent Hong Kong packing 3-1.
On the women’s side, second-ranked Ratchanok utilized her crafty backhand and sliced forehands as she beat Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal 21-19, 21-12.
However, Pusarla V. Sindhu made short work of Busanan Ongbumrungphan and Gadde Ruthvika Shivani beat Nitchadon Jindapol 21-16, 21-18 as India clinched it 3-1.
“We thought we had less of a chance after Saina losing,” Shivani said. “Our first step was to beat the Thai team ... so we’ll decide what to do [in the semis] now.”
India will square off with tournament favorites China in the semi-finals.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
Playing soccer and competing for trophies is the best way that many transplanted Hong Kongers and Macanese have found to stay in touch, and to interact with Taiwanese society, said officials at the Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Football Friendship Cup, which was held on April 13. Twelve clubs, mostly of players and coaches originally from Hong Kong and Macau, took part in the tournament in New Taipei City. The event is sponsored by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council. Participating teams were from the wider Taipei area, Hsinchu, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other areas. They divided into two