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China enjoys smooth progress at Asian badminton champs

Updated: 2011-04-21 12:43

(Xinhua)

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China enjoys smooth progress at Asian badminton champs

China's Wang Xin hits a return to Germany's Juliane Schenk during the women's singles quarter-finals of Malaysian Open Super Series 2011 badminton tournaments in Kuala Lumpur, Jan 21, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

CHENGDU - China enjoyed smooth progress by seeing most of its players enter into the next round at Asian badminton championships on Wednesday.

However, the biggest upset was also from China. Women world number four Wang Xin was ousted by qualifier Japanese Mitani Minatsu 21-19, 21-17, and the latter reckoned "impatience" as the reason of lost.

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"When I was leading in the first game and lagging behind in the second game, I was a bit impatient," said Wang, the women's singles semi-finalist at last month's All-England championships.

Men's top seed Lin Dan of China sailed into the top 16 by defeating Syrian Awad Amar 21-4, 21-7, and set up a clash with his compatriot Wen Kai, a winner over Pakkawat Vilailak from Thailand 22-20, 21-10.

"Lin is too strong to beat, but I will try my best to challenge him, " said the 22-year-old Wen, who used to ba a training partner of Lin during the Beijing Olympics.

With several world top badminton player, including Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and Indonesia ace Taufik, absent from these championships, Chinese players met few challenge from opponents.

Seven out of eight Chinese players joined into the last 16 in men's singles. Second-seeded Chen Long squeezed past Takuma Ueda of Japan 21-16, 21-16, while world champion Chen Jin beat Soon Huat Goh of Malaysia 21-10, 21-8.

Third-seeded Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand and fourth-seeded Tien Minh Nguyen of Vietnam, seen as the biggest obstacle of Chinese squad, both breezed past their respective opponents.

China also dominated in women's singles as six of eight players won in the first round.

World number one Wang Shixian, the newly-crowned All-England winner, squeezed past Singapore's Gu Juan 21-13, 21-13 and set a second-round clash with her teammate Lu Lan. World number two Wang Yihan defeated Hsiao Ma-pai from Chinese Taipei at ease 21-9, 21-13.

In men's doubles, top seed Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng entered into the second round along with other four Chinese duo.

In women's doubles, China's Du Jing/Pan Pan was outclassed by South Korea's Jung Eun Ha/Min Jung Kim, while other four Chinese teams into the second round.

 

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