China Top Group A

Kuala Lumpur (5/11) - As the defending champion, China topped both group A in Thomas and Uber Cup.

China beat last Thomas Cup runner-up Korea 4-1 to confirm their place as Thomas Cup Group A winner. Three-times world champion Lin Dan played Korean Park Sung-hwan in the first match. The match was not easy for the Chinese. He led the first set against Korean Park Sung-hwan 21-18. However, in the second set, Park forced Lin Dan to play deuce. 26-year-old Lin Dan finally conquered Park 25-23.

“I was not so focused in the second game but I was lucky at the net. I was prepared to play a rubber game at that point but it did not happen,” Lin Dan said after the match.

“I think Sung-hwan is capable of playing a much better game. He certainly did not give a 100% effort today.”

Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng played their first match in Thomas Cup, defeating Shin Baek-cheol and Jung Jae-sung 21-11 and 21-12. Finally, Chen Jin assured the winning of China by beating Shon Wan-ho 21-14 and 21-13.

China failed to win perfect 5-0 as their second men's doubles pair, Guo Zhendong/Xu Chen, bowed down in the hands of Yoo Yeon-seong/Ko Sung-hyun in a three-set match, 19-21, 21-19, and 19-21. In the last match, Bao Chunlai surmounted Lee Hyun-il 21-18 and 21-15.

In the Uber Cup, China showed their class to Malaysia as they mastered the latter 5-0. Instead of playing their best singles' player Wong Mew Choo, Malaysia place Sanatasah Saniru to meet world number one Wang Yihan. Wang beat Sanatasah in a comfortable 21-11, 21-8 win.

It seemed that Malaysia had surrendered from the first that they did not play their best doubles pair also. Goh Liu Ying and Ng Hui Lin played against Ma Jin and Wang Xiaoli. Again the Chinese pair overpowered Goh an Ng 21-18, 21-10. Wang Xin clasped the winning after subdueing Tee Jing Yi 21-12 and 21-5. Yu Yang/Du Jing and Jiang Yanjiao added China two more points.

Home Falls to Japan, Tazari Shows Bad Manner

Watched by their fans, Thomas Cup home team Malaysia was humbled surprisingly 2-3 by Japan. The deciding key to Japan's victory is Sho Sasaki's win over 33-year-old Wong Choong Hann in the second singles match. Even though Lee Chong Wei and Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong had won in the first two matches, Japan did lose their power and hope as they rose from early defeat.

Sho subjugated Choong Hann to made the point 1-2 in straight sets, 21-17, 21-18. Choong Hann, who was recalled to the national team, said, "I was hesitant and was comfortable with the way I played. I was playing against Sasaki for the first time and he did well to play a patient game.

After Choong Hann's defeat, Zakry and Fairuzizuan Tazari brought more grieves to the fans as they lost 15-21, 12-21 to Kenichi Hayakawa and Kenta Kazuno. Even Tazari could not control himself after receiving jeers from emotional fans and reacted to them. But he quickly apologized at the press conference with tears in his eyes.

Japanese Shoji Sato put Japan to the top of Group B as he won the deciding match against Hafiz Hashim in three sets, 21-10, 14-21, and 21-18.

"I am disappointed with what some of the fans did to Zakry and Fairuzizuan. Yes, maybe it was not their good day but booing and criticizing us openly is not the way to do it," commented Zakry and Tazari's compatriot Chong Wei.

"As a team captain, I feel for my teammates. No one in my team is playing to lose. They are here to give their best."

Uber Cup results:

Japan 5-0 Russia

South Korea 4-1 India

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