Top seeds and favourites China swept to another 5-0 whitewash – this time over Taiwan – to complete their Group A fixtures with an unbeaten record in the first Robot Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Thursday.
Despite the defeat Taiwan also advanced to the quarter-finals, having beaten Hong Kong 4-1 on Wednesday.
Indonesia edged out Malaysia 3-2 in a Group B thriller to top the group. Malaysia finished second with Sri Lanka ending their group campaign without a win after 5-0 defeats to Malaysia and Indonesia.
The Indonesians rode on their wins in the men's doubles through Wahyu Arya Pankaryanira-Ade Yusuf, Gregoria Mariska (women's singles) and Anggia Shitta Awanda-Tiara Rosaila Nuraidah in the women's singles.
Malaysia's points came through Lim Chi Wing in the men's singles and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie in the mixed doubles.
Chi Wing defeated Firman Abdul Kholik 21-19, 21-15 for Malaysia's first point after Indonesia raced to a 2=0 lead by taking the men's doubles and women's singles.
"I am happy to have won the point for Malaysia and keep the team in the hunt for a win," said Chi Wing after his win over the Indonesian.
"I must admit that I was somewhat nervous in my game as it is a team event. It gave me some pressure but I managed to get my act right for a win. Of course I will be happy to play my part in the quarter-finals.
"But it all depends on the coaches and their match strategies…no matter who we meet in the last eight."
Shevon Lai thanked Soon Huat for guiding her in the game.
"Soon Huat has been an inspiration to me. His encouragement on the court helped me a lot and I am still learning from mistakes," said Shevon after the win.
RESULTS (Thurs Feb 16)
GROUP A
CHINA 5 TAIWAN 0
(China first)
MS: Shi Yuqi beat Hsu Jen Hao 21-17, 21-14
WS: He Bingjiao beat Lee Chia Hsin 21-12, 12-21, 21-14
MD: Liu Cheng-Zhang Nan beat Chen Hung Ling-Wang Chi-Lin 21-17, 14-21, 21-18
WD: Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan beat Chang Ching Hui-Yang Ching Tun 21-10, 21-16
XD: Chen Qingchen-Zheng Siwei beat Hu Ling Fang-Tseng Min Hao 21-12, 26-24
GROUP B
INDONESIA 3 MALAYSIA 2
(Indonesia first)
MS: Firman Abdul Kholik lost to Lim Chi Wing 19-21, 18-21
WS: Gregoria Mariska beat Lee Ying Ying 21-8, 16-21, 21-15
MD: Wahyu Arya Pankaryanira-Ade Yusuf beat Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi 21-11, 17-21, 22-20
WD: Anggia Shitta Awanda-Tiara Rosaila Nuraidah beat Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean 21-19, 21-18
Edi Subaktiar-Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja lost to Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie 16-21, 16-21
