Shuttler Lin Chun-yi yesterday kept Taiwan on the board as they faced their first major challenge of the group stage after marching into the last eight at the Sudirman Cup Finals in Xiamen, China.
Taiwan were losing 3-1 to South Korea as of press time last night, with only the men’s doubles match remaining.
Taiwan and four-time champions South Korea have already progressed to the quarter-finals, after Taiwan on Monday blanked the Czech Republic 5-0 without giving up a single game.
Photo: AFP
Before last night’s tie, Taiwan were undefeated in Group B, with a 9-1 match record, ahead of South Korea, who, although also undefeated, were in second with an 8-2 match record.
That quickly changed last night on Xiamen Fenghuang Gymnasium’s court 2, where the world No. 19 mixed doubles duo of Chen Cheng-kuan and Hsu Yin-hui, playing their first match of the tournament, struggled to keep up with South Korea’s Seo Seung-jae and Chae Yu-jung, who ran away with a 21-12, 21-10 victory in just 29 minutes.
In the women’s singles, World No. 24 Chiu Pin-chian, who on Sunday lost Taiwan’s only match of their opener against Canada, faced a tough draw against world No. 1 superstar An Se-young.
Paris Olympic women’s champion An took advantage of Taiwan playing the biennial mixed team competition without former world No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying, going on to dominate Chiu 21-7, 21-13 in 42 minutes.
In the men’s singles, world No. 17 Lin kept Taiwan competitive, making Cho Geon-yeop fight for every point in the Taiwanese’s 21-15 opening game victory. Lin then ratcheted up the pressure, running off with an 11-1 lead in the opening minutes of the second game before winning 21-10.
It was Lin’s second win of the tournament, after he on Monday made quick work of the Czech Republic’s Jan Louda.
In the women’s doubles, the world No. 15 duo of Hsieh Pei-shan and Hung En-tzu, who ended Taiwan’s Canada tie with a decisive victory on Sunday, fought world No. 3 Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee to a first-game 21-17 victory, but were unable to keep up their momentum, losing 21-12, 21-12.
As of press time last night, two-time Olympic gold-medalist Wang Chi-lin and partner Chiu Hsiang-chieh were playing Seo and Kim Won-ho.
In last night’s other tie, 13-time champions China were beating Thailand 2-1 as of press time last night.
In yesterday’s early matches, Hong Kong and Canada, both already out of contention for the quarter-finals, ended their campaigns on a high with victories.
Hong Kong enjoyed a 5-0 sweep of Algeria in Group A, where record champions China and Thailand have already booked their places in the next round.
In Group B, Canada stormed past the Czech Republic 4-1.
On Tuesday, Japan — who have never won a title after finishing as runners-up in 2015, 2019 and 2021 — breezed through to the quarters, crushing France 5-0, while Group C rivals Malaysia, also eyeing a first Sudirman crown, advanced with a 4-1 win over Australia.
In Group D, former champions Indonesia marched into the quarter-finals with a 4-1 win over India, while Denmark routed England 5-0 to send them into the last eight.
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