CHINA-ENGLAND TEAM SERIES ENDS IN 3-3 TIE
by Mike Grossman (from reports filed by the U.K Chinese Sports Association and YANG YANG Badminton Equipment)

November 20, 1996 (New Shuttlenws) - The 6-meet badminton team series between England and a touring Chinese contingent ended last night in Sheffield, England with a Chinese victory, 3 matches to 2. The win by the Chinese team knotted up the series at 3-3.

The outcome was a slight disappointment for Steve Baddeley, England's new badminton competition manager, and the English side. They had won the first three meets of the series and had chances to win at least two of the last three encounters. However, the Chinese team, consisting of third-string and development national team players, soon adjusted to the English environment and were able to win the final three meets from the English combination of veterans and up-and-comers.

Nevertheless, Baddeley and England should be pleased with the outcome. The English men beat the Chinese in 8 of the 12 men's matches. English mixed pairs took all 6 of the mixed doubles matches. Not unexpectedly, the always strong Chinese women dominated their English counterparts.

The results of each of the six meets follow.

Meet 1 at Exeter on November 13
Women's Singles - Liu Yufang (China) beat Joanne Muggeridge 11-4, 11-6
Men's Singles - Darren Hall (England) beat Ji Xingpeng 15-1, 15-9
Mixed Doubles - Julian Robertson/Lorraine Cole (England) beat Chen Wei/ Liu Zhong 18-17, 15-7
Women's Doubles - Quian Hong/Liu Lu (China) beat Joanne Davies/Nicola Beck 15-7, 12-15, 15-1
Men's Doubles - James Anderson/Ian Pearson (England) beat Zhang Jun/Min Zhenyu 15-5, 15-13
England wins meet 3 matches to 2

Meet 2 at Bath on November 14
Women's Singles - Liu Yufang (China) beat Joanne Muggeridge 11-2, 11-4
Men's Singles - Darren Hall (England) beat Cheng Wei 18-17, 15-4
Women's Doubles - Quian Hong/Liu Lu (China) beat Joanne Muggeridge/Joanne Goode 15-6, 9-15, 18-17
Mixed Doubles - Nick Ponting/Joanne Goode (England) beat Ji Xingpeng/ Liu Zhong 15-5, 8-15, 15-10
Men's Doubles - James Anderson/Ian Pearson (England) beat Zhang Jun/Min Zhenyu 15-7, 17-14
England wins meet 3 matches to 2

Meet 3 at Boston (England) on November 15
Men's Singles - Colin Haughton (England) beat Cheng Wei 15-8, 15-1
Women's Singles - Wu Huimin (China) beat Emma Chaffin 11-5 11-3
Women's Doubles - Liu Zhong/Huang Nanyan (China) beat Nicola Beck/ Joanne Davies 15-9, 15-6
Men's Doubles - Julian Robertson/Nathan Robertson (England) beat Zhang Jun/Min Zhenyu 15-9, 11-15, 15-5
Mixed Doubles - Nathan Robertson/Sarah Hardaker (England) beat Ji Xingpeng/ Liu Yufang 10-15, 15-10, 15-12
England wins meet 3 matches to 2

Meet 4 at King's Lynn on November 17
Women's Singles - Wu Huimin (China) beat Tanya Groves-Woodward 12-11, 11-1
Men's Singles - Colin Haughton (England) beat Ji Xingpeng 15-5, 18-16
Mixed Doubles - John Quinn/Joanne Goode (England) beat Chen Wei/ Liu Yufang 15-10, 15-8
Women's Doubles - Quian Hong/Liu Lu (China) beat Joanne Goode/Sarah Hardaker 15-8, 15-7
Men's Doubles - Zhang Jun/Min Zhenyu (China) beat Ian Pearson/James Anderson 15-12, 15-5
China wins meet 3 matches to 2

Meet 5 at Mansfield on November 18
Men's Singles - Ji Xingpeng (China) beat Peter Knowles 11-15, 15-7, 15-9
Women's Singles - Wu Huimin (China) beat Tanya Groves-Woodward 11-2, 11-3
Men's Doubles - Zhang Jun/Min Zhenyu (China) beat Chris Hunt/John Quinn 15-17, 15-12, 15-11
Mixed Doubles - Nathan Robertson/Sarah Hardaker (England) beat Chen Wei/ Liu Yufang 18-17, 15-12
Women's Doubles - Liu Zhong/Huang Nanyan (China) beat Sarah Hardaker/Emma Chaffin 15-8, 15-7
China wins meet 4 matches to 1

Meet 6 at Sheffield on November 19
Men's Singles - Ji Xingpeng (China) beat Peter Knowles 15-12, 15-13
Men's Doubles - Chris Hunt/Nathan Robertson (England) beat Zhang Jun/Min Zhenyu 15-13, 18-17
Women's Singles - Liu Yufang (China) beat Tanya Groves-Woodward 11-1, 11-3
Women's Doubles - Qian Hong/Liu Lu (China) beat Joanne Goode/Gillian Gowers 15-7, 15-8
Mixed Doubles - Chris Hunt/Joanne Wright (England) beat Chen Wei/Liu Zhong 15-6, 15-3
China wins meet 3 matches to 2