Top seeds and hot favourites China swept through an easy 5-0 win over Hong Kong in their Group A match in the inaugural Robot Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships at the Nguyen Du Cultural Sports Club in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Tuesday.
Except for the mixed doubles match which went to three sets before Li Yunhui-Zhang Nan prevailed 16-21, 21-16, 21-11 in a 46 minute match against Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet the Chinese won all remaining matches in straight sets.
China started the rout in the first match of the day – the mixed doubles with Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen easing past Law Cheuk Him- Reginald Lee Chun Hei 21-16, 21-14 in 26 minutes.
Reigning world junior champion Chen Yufei made it 2-0 for China with a 21-11, 21-18 win over Yip Pui Yin in the women's singles before Qiao Bin wrapped up the men's singles when he thrashed Vincent Wong Wing Ki 21-12, 21-12.
Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan were too strong for Ng Tsz Yau-Yeung Ng Ting in the women's doubles and won the 34 minute match 21-13, 21-18.
Malaysia, parading a young team for the Asian meet were never in doubt of the whitewash against Sri Lanka.
National backup player Soong Joo Ven, a late inclusion in the team in Vietnam to replace Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin in the men's singles, did not let his team down by winning the first point.
The 22-year-old Joo Ven defeated 32-year-old Niluka Karunaratne 21-8, 21-17 in 26 minutes. The Sri Lankan had arrived in Ho Chi Minh only hours before the match but Joo Ven was more pleased to give his team the opening point.
"I faced some resistance in the second set and difficulty handling his jabs and sharp smashes. But I managed to check that and pleased with my performance to give my team the first point," said Joo Ven.
Lee Ying Ying made it 2-0 for Malaysia in the women's singles against Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa when she beat the Sri Lanka 21-19, 21-11 in a 31 minute match.
Up and coming men's doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin fought hard for their 21-18, 22-20 win over Karunaratne brothers – Niluka and Dinuka.
In the women's doubles Lim Yin Loo-Yap Cheng Wen needed only 29 minutes for Malaysia's fourth point when the Malaysians beat Thilini-Kavindi Ishandika Sirimannage 21-11, 21-15.
Malaysia's newly paired mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie outplayed Renu Chandrika Hettiarachchige-Dinuka 21-12, 21-12 to wrap up the match.
"It is a good start for us in the tournament. More importantly it is a good exposure for our young players to build up their badminton career," said Malaysia's coach Tey Seu Bok on his team's win.
RESULTS
GROUP A
China 5 Hong Kong 0
(China first)
MS: Qiao Bin beat Vincent Wong Wing Ki 21-12, 21-12
WS: Chen Yufei beat Yip Pui Yin 21-11, 21-18
MD: Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen beat Law Cheuk Him-Reginald Lee Chun Hei 21-16, 21-14
WD: Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan beat Ng Tsz Yau-Yeung Nga Ting 21-13, 21-18
XD: Li Yunhui-Zhang Nan beat Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet 16-21, 21-16, 21-11
GROUP B
Malaysia 5 Sri Lanka 0
(Malaysia first)
MS: Soong Joo Ven beat Niluka Karunaratne 21-8, 21-17
MD: Goh Sze Fei-Nu Izzuddin beat Dinuka Karunaratna-Niluka Karunaratne 21-18, 22-20
WS: Lee Ying Ying beat Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa 21-19, 21-11
WD: Lim Yin Loo-Yap Cheng Wen beat Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa-Kavindi Ishandika Sirimannage 21-11, 21-15
XD: Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie beat Renu Chandrika Hettiarachchige 21-12, 21-12
