China won all 10 games and overwhelmed Thailand 5-0 in two-and-a-half hours on Monday to open its defense of the Sudirman Cup title at the Scotstoun International Sports Arena in Glasgow.
England won all of its doubles matches to overcome losses in both singles matches to defeat Malaysia 3-2. England was scheduled to face China in the mixed team badminton championships yesterday.
In Group B, Kenneth Jonassen and Tine Rasmussen won their singles matches and Denmark beat Hong Kong 3-2.
PHOTO: AFP
Lee Hyo-jung won both her women's and mixed doubles matches to pace South Korea over Indonesia 3-2.
Chinese coach Li Yongbo said he selected his strongest match for his opening match.
Zheng Bo and Gao Ling defeated Songphon Anugritayawon and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul 21-13, 21-12 in mixed doubles to start China's rout and Xie Xingfang, ranked second in the world, added a 21-11, 21-9 win over Soratja Chansrisukot in women's singles.
Men's world champion Lin Dan assured victory when he beat Poompat Sapkulchananart 21-10, 21-11 and victories in the men's and women's doubles completed the domination.
Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms gave England an early lead, beating second-ranked mixed doubles pair Tan Wee Kiong and Woon Khe Wei 18-21, 21-16, 21-16.
Lee Chong Wei and Wong Mew Choo won their singles encounters to put Malaysia in front.
However, England men's doubles tandem Anthony Clark and Robert Blair beat second-ranked Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong 18-21, 21-16, 21-16.
But the best was saved until last, when Emms and Donna Kellogg saved three match points to claw their way to a 22-20, 18-21, 23-21 victory over Wong Pei Ty and Eei Huin Chin.
"That was amazing," England coach Ian Wright said.
"But there's great team spirit in the squad. We will go flat out against China. If you want to be the best you have to compete with the best and that's what we aim to do," he said.
Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday's match, an England victory over Thailand tomorrow can earn it a place in the semi-finals for the first time.
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