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Japan caused a sensational upset in the men’s Thomas Cup yesterday, knocking out overwhelming favourites and defending champions China 3-0 in the semi-final in New Delhi. |
China, seeking a record sixth consecutive title in the team championships, held every two years, never recovered after Chen Long lost to Kenichi Tago in the opening singles.
World number two Chen lasted just 43 minutes against the aggressive fourth-ranked Tago to go down 21-13, 21-11.
Japan made it 2-0 through the doubles pair of Kenichi Hayakawa and Hiroyuki Endo, who beat Chai Biao and Hong Wei 22-20, 21-19.
The 15th-ranked Kento Momoto sealed the tie for the 2012 semi-finalists by coming from behind to upset world number six Du Pengyu 23-25, 21-18, 21-14 after an hour and 25 minutes.
World champion Lin Dan, who was due to play the fifth match, was left stranded as the Japanese celebrated a famous win at the Siri Fort stadium in the Indian capital.
Later, five-time champions Malaysia also made the final, their first since 2002 when they lost to Indonesia. World No.1 Lee Chong Wei, Chong Wei Feng and the doubles pair of Tan Boon Heong and Hoon Thien How made sure they defeated Indonesia 3-0 to reach tomorrow’s summit clash.
India lose to Japan, settle for Uber Cup bronze
India had to settle down for a bronze as they lost their semi-final tie to Japan 2-3 despite taking a 2-0 lead in the World Women’s Team Championship for the Uber Cup.
Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu gave India the perfect start they needed by winning the first two singles. But five-time champions Japan outplayed the hosts in the two doubles and third singles to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Earlier, 12-time and defending champions China thrashed South Korea 3-0 in a repeat of the final of the last two editions. Olympic champion Li Xuerui, World No.2 Shixian Wang and top doubles combine Yixin Bao and Jinhua Tang had no trouble in easing past South Korea to book a place in today’s final.
Olympic bronze medallist Saina gave India the start they needed by easing past World No.12 Minatsu Mitani 21-12, 21-13 to take a 4-2 lead in career meetings. The World No.8 was far superior on court and comfortably kept extending her lead in both the games to seal the match in 41 minutes.
Later, World Championship bronze medallist Sindhu managed to only edge past Sayaka Takahashi 19-21, 21-18, 26-24 in a marathon match which lasted an hour and 12 minutes to give India a 2-0 lead. With the win, World No.11 Sindhu levelled her head-to-head to 1-all.
But it started going downhill for India thereon as Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa put up a good fight in the first doubles but Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi proved a better combine. The Japanese World No.4 pair won 21-12, 20-22, 21-16.
World No.16 Eriko Hirose then drubbed P.C. Thulasi 21-14, 21-15 in no time to level the match for the visitors.
In the end, Saina and Sindhu came out in India’s last hope to take on Miyuki Maeda and Reika Kakiiwa in the second doubles. But the World No.5 Japanese pair’s co-ordination and experience of playing together proved decisive as they quashed the Indian duo’s challenge 21-14, 21-11.
This was the first time India clinched a medal at the prestigious event.
