Holders China set up the mouthwatering prospect of a clash between Olympic champion Lin Dan and Malaysian world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei in the Sudirman Cup semi-finals after crushing Indonesia 5-0 to top Group B.
Hosts China, seeking a third successive title at the mixed team event, maintained their perfect record in the group stage after victories over Japan and England, although they faced a stiffer challenge from 2007 runners-up Indonesia.
Wang Yihan, winner of this year’s All England women’s title, had to come from behind after losing the first game to Maria Kristin Yulianti, Indonesia’s Olympic bronze medalist.
PHOTO: AFP
TOUGH IS GOOD
“Tough games like tonight are helpful for the young players ... It is no good to get to the semi-finals too easily,” China head coach Li Yongbo said.
The 21-year-old Wang, the world No. 8, is making her Sudirman Cup debut and has been chosen ahead of Olympic silver medalist and former world champion Xie Xingfang for all three matches.
“We have too many elite players, which is a headache for me,” coach Li told reporters.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT
A meeting between Lin and Lee is expected to be the highlight of today’s semi-finals when China take on Malaysia, who stunned Denmark to reach the last four for the first time.
In the other semi-final, Indonesia will take on South Korea, who were unbeaten in Group A against Malaysia, Denmark and Hong Kong.
In the Group 2 play-offs yesterday, Taiwan defeated Singapore 3-1.
Taiwan kept their hopes of advancing to next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Saturday, backed by solid pitching. Taiwan last night played against Nicaragua. As of press time, Nicaragua was leading 6-0. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan on Saturday kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen struck out one and allowed no hits, except for a hit-by-pitch over
Taiwan kept its hopes of advancing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome last night, backed by solid pitching. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win was crucial for Taiwan, as a loss would have eliminated the team from contention for the next WBC. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) struck out one and allowed no hits, except for
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tonight for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Sunday. The home team’s loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finish first in the qualifier round in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to next year’s finals. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with
Team Taiwan avoided missing the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time by defeating Spain 6-3 in a do-or-die game in Taipei last night. After narrowly escaping a mercy-rule loss to Spain in the WBC Qualifiers opener on Friday last week, the home team — winner of last year's WBSC Premier12 title three months ago — got their revenge against the 2023 European champions at Taipei Dome. "It felt quite different from when we won the Premier12," Taiwan captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) said after the game, recalling the ups and downs the team has experienced over the past few days. Unlike in
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