China to face Denmark in quarter-finals of Sudirman Cup
Updated 12:18, 23-May-2019
CGTN
["china"]
The last day of the 2019 Sudirman Cup group round saw China, Japan, and South Korea all moving on to the quarter-finals after coming on top of their respective groups.
According to the results of a subsequent quarter-finals draw, China will face Denmark, South Korea will take on Thailand, Chinese Taipei will contend with Indonesia, and Malaysia will challenge Japan.
China knocked India out of the Sudirman Cup with a 5-0 victory on Wednesday. China led 1-0 after their world No. 2 mixed doubles pair of Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping claimed victory in a one-sided affair over India's Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N Sikki Reddy.
In the following men's singles, China had two-time world champion Chen Long confronting India's Sammer Verma, last year's BWF World Tour Finals semi-finalist. Chen lagged behind 8-14 in the opening, but gradually regained his composure, and embarked on a breathless 6-0 run, turning the match on its head. After weathering a late surge by Sameer and sealing the tie 22-20 in the second set, Chen brought China victory after 71 minutes.
China's Chen Long in action during the men's singles match of the Sudirman Cup, May 22, 2019. /VCG Photo

China's Chen Long in action during the men's singles match of the Sudirman Cup, May 22, 2019. /VCG Photo

The world No. 7 pair of Han Chengkai and Zhou Haodong then overwhelmed Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty 18-21, 21-15, 21-17. All England champion Chen Yufei produced a brilliant performance to outdo Saina Nehwal 21-12, 21-17, while the world No. 3 women's doubles pair of Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan steamrolled Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki 21-12, 21-15, completing a second 5-0 whitewash in four days.
Japan eased to a 4-1 win over Thailand to stay top of Group 1A. Top-ranked Kento Momota, who was absent in Japan's opening match against Russia, rebounded from a 14-19 deficit in the first game to beat Sitthikom Thammasin 21-19, 21-10 in men's singles.
Kento Momota of Japan competes in the Men's Singles match against Sitthikom Thammasin of Thailand (not pictured) during day four of the Sudirman Cup at Guangxi Sports Center in Nanning, China, May 22, 2019. / VCG Photo

Kento Momota of Japan competes in the Men's Singles match against Sitthikom Thammasin of Thailand (not pictured) during day four of the Sudirman Cup at Guangxi Sports Center in Nanning, China, May 22, 2019. / VCG Photo

Japan showed its strength in all three doubles fixtures while Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong upset world No.4 Akane Yamaguchi, the first Japanese to win the Badminton Asia Championships women's title, 9-21, 21-14, 22-20 in 71 minutes.
European powerhouse Denmark, who lost its Group 1B opener against England, secured a berth in quarter-finals after beating the group leader Indonesia 3-2.
The quarter-finals of 2019 Sudirman Cup will be played on May 23-24.
(With inputs from Xinhua)