China Crush Sweden 5-0 in Sudirman Cup OpenerOlympic mixed doubles champion Zhang Jun and Gao Ling gave China a 1-0 lead with a straight-set 15-6, 15-10 victory over Frederik Bergstrom and Jenny Karlsson in just 24 minutes. Ji Xinpeng, who rose to fame last October by winning the Sydney Olympic men's singles gold, put it 2-0 by beating George Rimarcdi 15-6, 8-15, 15-2. Olympic women's singles titlist Gong Zhichao put China in an unbeatable advantage after she saw off Marina Andrievaskaya 11-9, 11-7. In the last two symbolic matches, Liu Yong/Zhang Wei defeated Henrik Andersson/Frederik Bergstrom 15-12, 15-5 in the men's doubles and Gao Ling/Huang Sui needed just 15 minutes to dispose of Johanna Persson/Sara Persson 15-0, 15-1. Gong, ranked third in the world, who won her second All-England champion earlier this year, is also tipped a sure shot to win the women's singles champion next month. Ji, who has not won a title since the Olympics, showed that he is recovering and regaining the confidence that took him to the stardom in Sydney. "He has experienced a long period of slump form after the Olympics," his coach Tang Xianhu said. "In the past two months, he has trained very hard and I hope today's 2-1 win can help his nerve." Li Yongbo, head coach of the Chinese team, said Ji and Gong have not played "their best" and stressed they could have taken the wins more easily. "Ji was tactically wrong in the second set," Li said. "Neither of the two Olympic champions have not played their best." However, Li said that such performance were "normal" since this was their opening competition. "I believe they will gradually find their form." The coach added that Chinese shuttlers must be "mentally tough" if they want to win a record fourth successive Sudirman Cup champion. "Confidence is crucial for us," Li Yongbo, head coach of Chinese national team, said after the Chinese team crushed Sweden in the opening game. "We have relied confidence to win the last three Sudirman Cup champions. This time we must also be cerebrally strong," he added. Li was pleased that his players, especially the first-timers have showed self-confidence in their opener. "Every player was eager to play. " Title contender Denmark, who boasted world men's number two Peter Gade and women's world number one Camilla Martin, brushed aside England 5-0 in Group B. Jens Eriksen/Mette Shjoldager put Denmark ahead by beating Nathan Robertson/Donna Kellogg 16-17, 15-7, 15-10 before Gade and Martin breezed past Mark Constable 15-2, 15-3 and Tracey Hallam 11- 3, 11-2 respectively. Jim Laugesen/Michael Sogaard then beat Anthony Clark/Ian Sullivan 15-2, 15-8 in the men's doubles and Helene Kirkegaard/ Rikke Olsen defeated Ella Miles/Sara Sankey 15-9, 15-5 in the women's doubles. England will take on Indonesia in Group B and Sweden meet South Korea in Group A on Tuesday. The top two teams in each three-team group will qualify for the semifinals after the round-robin fight. China Relies on Confidence to Make Sudirman Cup HistoryChinese shuttlers must be "mentally tough" if they want to win a record fourth successive Sudirman Cup, Chinese badminton head coach Li Yongbo said Monday in Seville."Confidence is crucial for us," said Li after the Chinese team crushed Sweden in the opening match. "We relied on confidence to win the last three world mixed team championships. This time we must also be mentally strong." Li was pleased that his players, especially the first-timers, have showed self-confidence in their opener. "Every player is eager to have an opportunity to play. " But Li was not satisfied with the performance of men's singles player Ji Xinpeng and women player Gong Zhichao. Ji and Gong, both Olympic champions, made some "unforced errors " and should have taken the games more easily, Li said. Ji, ranked 11th in the world, conceded China's only set as he beat George Rimardi 15-6, 8-15, 15-2 while world third-ranked Gong Zhichao edged out little-known Marina Andrievaskaya 11-9, 11-7. "Ji was tactically wrong in the second set," Li said. "Neither of the two Olympic champions have played their best." However, Li said that such performance was "normal" since this was their opening competition. "I believe they will find their form." |
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