Home>News Center>Sports
         
 

China's shuttlers looking to home advantage
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-10 09:26

China will be looking to capitalise on home advantage when the Sudirman Cup begins Tuesday in a bid to reclaim the mixed team badminton championship title they lost to South Korea two years ago.

Despite a galaxy of star in their line-up, four-time winners China, however, have a formidable task on their hands.

Thailand, Indonesia, England, Hong Kong, Denmark, Sweden and the defending champions South Korea will all be battling to secure semi-final berths.

Only these eight teams in Group 1, which is split into two sub-groups, have a shot at the title in the ninth edition of this prestigious biennial event.

China and Indonesia are the clear favourites to secure the top two spots in Group 1B ahead of Hong Kong and Sweden.

The Chinese, with men's world number one Lin Dan and Athens Olympic women's champion Zhang Ning, look unbeatable, particularly with the Indonesians struggling with a recent spate of injuries and distinct lack of form.

But Indonesia, who include Athens Olympic champion Taufil Hidayat and ace doubles duo Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto, can never be written off in team events as they proved when they beat China in the 2002 Thomas Cup in Guangzhou.

Nevertheless, Indonesia, who haven't won the Sudirman Cup since its inaugural edition in 1989, have been eager to play down expectations.

Hong Kong, who were promoted into the elite division after topping Group 2 two years ago in Eindhoven, could provide the shock factor.

In Group 1A, the Koreans on paper appear less strong than they were in 2003 when they shook up the badminton world by downing the mighty Chinese.

They have, however, persuaded famous mixed doubles duo Kim Dong-Moon and Ra Kyung-Min to return to the court again after a nine-month break from international competition following the Olympics.

Their main challenge is likely to come from Denmark, spearheaded by the Great Dane himself, Peter Gade, and also featuring the classy doubles pairing of Jens Eriksen and Martin Lundgaard Hansen.

The Danes will be eager to top the sub-group to avoid a possible meeting with China in the semi-final, assuming the hosts secure the top spot in 1B.

Sweden and England will both have to fight hard to retain their places in the elite group.

In the second division, Malaysia, who have publicly stated they will not be satisfied with anything less than securing promotion into the top flight for the 2007 Sudirman Cup, are likely to be pushed all the way by Taiwan.



Juventus edge AC Milan 1-0
Sochaux vs Strasbourg
China claims gold clean sweep at table tennis worlds
 
  Today's Top News     Top Sports News
 

Most Japanese say shrine visits should stop

 

   
 

President Hu meets Chirac, Putin in Moscow

 

   
 

60 years on, world remembers war heroes

 

   
 

Hometown gives Soong a heroic welcome

 

   
 

Beijing addresses terror issue for Games

 

   
 

China to liquidate No 5 securities broker

 

   
  Juventus gain first
   
  South Korea still want North to play Japan at home
   
  Barcelona creeps closer to La Liga championship
   
  Zheng Jie fails to win in Rabbat
   
  Miami paste Washington 105-86 in Game 1
   
  Pacers crush Celtics to take series
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 久久久久亚洲av无码专区蜜芽 | 99国产欧美久久久精品蜜芽| 日本一区二区免费看| 亚洲国产日韩欧美一区二区三区 | 日本三级韩国三级美三级91| 亚洲AV日韩AV永久无码下载| 欧美片免费观看网址| 伦理片中文字幕完整视频| 精精国产XXXX视频在线播放| 国产乱女乱子视频在线播放| 黑人操日本美女| 国产真实乱了全集磁力| 91w乳液78w78wyw5| 在线看免费毛片| hd日本扒衣党视频播放| 福利视频你懂的| 国产精品情侣呻吟对白视频| julia无码人妻中文字幕在线| 成人欧美一区二区三区| 久久久久久久国产a∨| 日韩欧美第一区二区三区| 亚洲人成日本在线观看| 欧美日韩国产人成在线观看| 亚洲精品成人a在线观看| 狼友av永久网站免费观看| 公侵犯玩弄漂亮人妻优| 美国式禁忌23| 四虎永久精品免费观看| 真实男女动态无遮挡图| 性色AV无码一区二区三区人妻| 久久久无码一区二区三区| 日韩电影免费在线观看中文字幕| 亚洲va国产日韩欧美精品| 欧美丰满熟妇XXXX性ppX人交| 亚洲国产精品人久久| 欧美日韩国产综合在线小说| 亚洲狠狠ady亚洲精品大秀 | 色偷偷8888欧美精品久久| 国产精品无码一区二区三区免费| 99久久综合精品国产| 夜夜高潮夜夜爽国产伦精品|