China confirmed that they won Group A at the Blue Ocean Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship Dubai 2023. In the last match, the defending champion had to struggle to beat Korea with a score of 3-2.
Initially, China had won 2-0. But then Korea chased and made a 2-2 tie. Luckily, in the last match which contested mixed doubles, the Chinese pair Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin, who had to fight for three games, defeated Kim Young Hyuk/Lee Yu Lim 17-21, 21-15, 21-13 . In the world ranking, Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin is ranked 48th, while Kim Young Hyuk/Lee Yu Lim is ranked 126th.
China immediately opened a 2-0 victory through the men's singles and women's singles. In the men's singles, Chinese badminton player Zhao Jun Peng, who is ranked 12th in the world, won three tight games 11-21, 21-16, 24-22 over Cho Geonyeop, who is ranked 230th. This meeting was their second meeting. Previously, the two met in the top 64 of the 2016 Korea Masters. At that time, Zhao Jun Peng won 23-21, 21-13.
China raised its victory through Gao Fang Jie in the women's singles. The world ranking #99 won 22-20, 21-19 over Kim Ga Eun who had a higher ranking, 20. This was Gao Fang Jie's second win after previously meeting in the top 32 of the 2018 Canada Open.
However, Korea was able to equalize their two doubles, men's and women's. In men's doubles, Kim Won Ho/Na Sung Seung won 21-18, 21-16 over Chinese doubles Ren Xiang Yu/Tan Qiang. Kim Won Ho/Na Sung Seung is an impromptu couple, usually Kim Won Ho is paired with Choi Sol Gyu and is ranked 11th in the world. While Na Sung Seung is usually paired with Jin Yong and is ranked 64th in the world. Unlike the Chinese doubles Ren Xiang Yu/Tan Qiang who are regular partners and have the last rank of 22.
In women's doubles, South Korean pair Baek Ha Na/Lee So Hee, who were last ranked 42nd, defeated Chinese doubles Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning, who were ranked 296th, in straight games 21-16, 21-16.
Unfortunately, the effort that already made the score 2-2 failed to turn into a victory because in the last number to compete in mixed doubles, Korea lost.
These results put China in the top position in Group A followed by South Korea. The third position is occupied by Singapore which beat Uzbekistan with a score of 5-0. Only the winners and runners up are entitled to qualify for the eight round.
