THOMAS and UBER CUPS: CHINA HEADS MANILA SEMIFINALISTS

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February 21, 1998 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Powerhouse China yesterday led the list of semifinalists at the Thomas and Uber Cups (the world badminton men's and women's team championships) Asian Zone qualifying tournament being held at the Philsports gymnasium in Pasig City, Philippines. The Chinese men's team defeated Korea 4 matches to 1 in their last second round match, and the Chinese women defeated Japan 5 to 0.

Spearheading the Chinese men's effort were singles aces Sun Jun who beat Hwang Sun Ho 15-10 and 15-0, Dong Jiong who defeated Jang Chun Wong 15-6 and 15-1, and Luo Yigang who disposed of Jun Jong Bae 15-12 and 15-4. In the men's doubles, Koreans Lee Dong Soo and Ha Tae Kwon beat Liu Yong and Zhang Wei, 15-12 and 15-12, to give Korea its only match victory. Yang Ming and Zhang Jun took the other men's doubles match, beating Yim Bong Eun and Kim Dong Moon 15-7 and 15-9.

The Chinese women banked on Gong Zhichao who beat Yasuko Mizui in the opening singles match 11-3 and 11-7, Dai Yun who beat Takako Ida in the second singles 11-2 and 12-10, Wang Chen who took out Miho Tanaka in the third singles 11-7 and 11-8, Ge Fei and Gu Jun who defeated Yoshiko Iwata and Haruko Matsuda in the first doubles 15-3 and 15-2, and the pair of Qin Yiyuan and Tang Yongshu who beat Shizuka Yamamoto and Kanako Yonekura 15-4 and 15-4.

Despite their losses, the Korean men and the Japanese women also qualified for the semifinals later today by virtue of finishing second in their groups.

Malaysia won the other men's second round group, beating Japan 4 matches to 1. Japan finished second and also qualified for the semifinals.

In the other women's second round group, Korea took group honors, defeating Taiwan 5 to 0. Taiwan finished second in the group and earned a place in the semifinals.

Second Round results in Manila (Pasig City):

Wednesday
Thomas Cup
Group X: China 5 Canada 0; Korea 3 Taiwan 2
GRoup Y: Japan 3 Singapore 2; Malaysia 5 Thailand 0
Uber Cup
Group X: China 5 New Zealand 0; Japan 5 Malaysia 0
Group Y: Korea 5 Singapore 0; Taiwan 5 Canada 0

Thursday
Thomas Cup
Group X: Korea 5 Canada 0; China 5 Taiwan 0
Group Y: Malaysia 5 Singapore 0; Japan 3 Thailand 2
Uber Cup
Group X: China 5 Malaysia 0; Japan 4 New Zealand 1
Group Y: Korea 5 Canada 0; Taiwan 5 Singapore 0

Friday
Thomas Cup
Group X: China 4 Korea 1; Taiwan 5 Canada 0
Group Y: Malaysia 4 Japan 1; Thailand 4 Singapore 1
Uber Cup
Group X: China 5 Japan 0; New Zealand 3 Malaysia 2
Group Y: Canada 3 Singapore 2; Korea 5 Taiwan 0

Final Standings:
Thomas Cup
Group X: 1. China 2. Korea 3. Taiwan 4. Canada
Group Y: 1. Malaysia 2. Japan 3. Thailand 4. Singapore
Uber Cup
Group X: 1. China 2. Japan 3. New Zealand 4. Malaysia
Group Y: 1. Korea 2. Taiwan 3. Canada 4. Singapore

(mcoe/dsimmons)