KUALA LUMPUR: Underdogs Taiwan thrashed European champions Germany 5-0 to top Group C of the Sudirman Cup yesterday and sail into the quarter-finals.
Former champions Indonesia also reached the quarter-finals with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over India in Group A.
Defending champions China, Denmark, Japan, South Korea and Thailand make up the other five quarter-final contenders with just one last space left -- for either Germany or Malaysia.
Japan crushed Singapore 5-0 in Group D, a result that ensured Denmark also qualified from the group as the Singaporeans were eliminated. Meanwhile, South Korea beat Hong Kong 4-1 in Group B.
But the day’s biggest surprise was Taiwan, who already upset hosts Malaysia 3-2 on Sunday. The Taiwanese finished all but two matches in two games, stunning the Europeans.
Germany will take on Malaysia today to decide who will follow the Taiwanese into the quarter-finals to take up the final place there.
Indonesia will meet eight-time champions China today to decide the Group A winner, while Japan play Denmark and South Korea take on Thailand to decide who tops in their groups.
The top two teams in each group qualify for the quarter-finals.
Indonesia team manager Rexy Mainaky, a former world and Olympic champion, tipped the Chinese to win their fifth consecutive Sudirman Cup, but believed that his team could still upset the top seeds.
The 1996 Atlanta Olympic men’s doubles gold medalist has won all the major trophies in badminton except one -- the Sudirman Cup.
China thrashed India 5-0 on Sunday, but the defending champions were given a tough workout.
Mainaky said he had expected to beat India and was pleased with his players, especially women’s singles Lindaweni Fanetri, as she kept calm to defeat P V Sindhu.
He admitted world number two Saina Nehwal’s absence through injury from the India team made it easier for her.
Meanwhile, Kashyap Parupalli who defeated Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka for India’s lone point said losing Nehwal had been a big blow.
“If she was in the team, I think we could have stolen a point today and that would have lifted our players’ spirits,” he said. AFP
