SUHANDINATA CUP 2010: Breeze for China, Malaysia
News 10:35 AM
Defending champions China got off to a winning start, albeit at the expense of hosts Mexico, on the opening day of the BWF World Junior Championships for the Suhandinata Cup at the Code Dome in Guadalajara on Friday.
Silver medalists Malaysia also blanked Dominican Republic 5-0 to start their campaign on a winning note. European powerhouses Denmark and England also recorded emphatic wins.There was further heartache for Mexico when they were beaten 4-1 by France, a result which condemned the hosts to finish bottom of Group W1.
China and France will play on Saturday to decide the group winners.
The BWF World Junior Championships, which includes both team and individual events, will conclude on April 25. A total of 24 teams are competing in the Suhandinata Cup and 39 teams in the individual events.
The teams are divided to four main groups – W, X, Y and Z. These groups are further divided to two sub-groups with three teams in each sub-group.
Mexico's only point in the tie against France came via the women’s singles when Mariana Ugalde scored a 21-10 and 21-18 win over Lauren Meheust.
In Group W2, Japan topped the group and is likely to take on China to decide the winners of Group W after they powered to 4-1 and 5-0 wins over Germany and Austria respectively.
In Group Z1, Malaysia, despite resting several of their top players, were too strong for Dominican Republic in their 5-0 win.
Loh Wei Sheng, in the absence of top player Zulkifli Zulfadli gave the Malaysians the first point in the men’s singles with a 21-10, 21-9 win over Jose Cabrera in 24 minutes.
Ow Yao Han, one half the men’s doublés pair that captured the gold in last year’s edition, was also rested but Teo Ee Yi-Nelson Wei Keat beat Jose Cabrera-Wilton Jose Tavares 21-5, 21-6.
Malaysia's other points came via Yang Li Lian in the women’s singles, Teo Ee Yi-Lai Pei Jing in the mixed doublés and Lai Pei Jing-Shevon Lai in the women’s doublés.
Thailand, who bagged two gold medals in the individual events last year, beat Puerto Rico 5-0 in a Group Y1 tie.
The Thais even had the luxury of fielding defending women’s singles champion Ratchanok Inthanon in the women’s doublés as they coasted to victory in 90 minutes.
Denmark tuned up for the cruch tie against India in Group Z2 on Saturday with a 5-0 win over United States while India also coasted to a similiar win over the Americans.
Saturday's action will start at 0830 hours with with ties between China and France, Japan and Germany, Indonesia and Canada, Chinese Taipei and England. In addition, Thailand will face off the Netherlands; South Core will compete against Hong Kong, Malaysia vs. Singapore and Denmark against India.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 10:35 AM.
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