In a thrilling showdown in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, defending champions China beat Thailand 4-1 to advance to the Sudirman Cup knockout stage. The night was full of intense rallies and unforgettable moments on the badminton court 🏸!
The excitement ignited in the mixed doubles match when Feng Yanzhe and Wei Yaxin outpaced their rivals, Teeraratsakul Pakkapon and Muenwong Phataimas, with scores of 23-21 and 21-11. Not to be outdone, the men's singles clash saw Li Shifeng engaging in an 85-minute thriller against Thailand's Wangcharoen Kantaphon. The match swung like a blockbuster with scores of 21-18, 17-21, and 21-13 keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
The women’s singles narrative added even more drama. World No. 2 Wang Zhiyi battled hard against Intanon Ratchanok. After dropping a tight first set 19-21, Wang bounced back by taking the second set 21-13, only to narrowly lose the decider 21-23. Reflecting on her performance, she noted, "She played very aggressively today. I performed poorly in many ways, which gave my opponent lots of opportunities and confidence. I hope my failure can be transformed into valuable experience."
China continued to dominate in the doubles events as well. In the men's doubles matchup, Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang secured a smooth win with scores of 21-14, 21-14. Meanwhile, Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning carried the momentum in the women's doubles, winning 21-11 and 21-8.
In Group B, four-time champions South Korea rebounded from a men’s singles stumble to defeat the Chinese Taipei team 4-1, topping their group and adding another exciting chapter to this international badminton showcase.
As the Sudirman Cup knockout stage unfolds, the passion, drama, and high-energy play continue to captivate fans around the world. Stay tuned for more exhilarating badminton action as the tournament heats up!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
