Unbeaten China Reach Quarter-finalsHosts China eased into the quarter-finals of the World Junior Badminton Championships in Guangzhou on Saturday by finishing their group matches without losing one single set.The Chinese, top title favorites for the inaugural team event of the World Junior Badminton Championships, proved too much for China's Macao as they crushed the opponents with straight sets wins all the way, just the same as they did Friday night over Italy in their other group Z2 match. "Group matches are quite easy because the opponents are not on the same level with us," Chinese coach Chen Xingdong told Xinhua. "Real campaign has yet to start." In Sunday's quarter-finals, China will meet England, who secured a spot in the last 8 together with five other squads after Friday's action. Thailand, who produced the only upset on Friday by defeating badminton powerhouse Denmark 4-1, continued their run as they whitewashed Czech Republic to clinch the final berth in the quarters. Denmark now has only 9th-16th deciders to play as second finisher in group Y1 behind Thailand. The fourth edition of the biennial championships, which features the debut of team event under Sudirman Cup formation and an experimental five-set, seven-point scoring system, runs through November 12 with five individual events starting on Tuesday. |
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