THOMAS and UBER CUPS: CHINA, KOREA WIN BERTHS IN UBER FINALS

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February 21, 1998 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Top seeds China and Korea won their semifinal meetings today at the Uber Cup (world badminton women's team championships) Asian Zone qualifier being held in Pasig City just outside Manila in the Philippines, and each claimed a spot in the Uber Cup Finals slated for Hong Kong in mid-May.

China whitewashed Taiwan 5 matches to 0, while Korea beat Japan 4 to 1.

Gong Zhichao opened up for the Chinese women, toying with Chen Wan Ju 11-1 and 11-1. Dai Yun then beat Lin Chiu Yin 11-5 and 11-1. Zhang Ning clinched for the Chinese with her 11-7 and 11-0 victory over Kuo Ling Yan.

In the doubles, Ge Fei and Gu Jun whipped Tsai Hui Min and Chen Li Chen 15-4 and 15-2, and the duo of Qin Yiyuan and Tan Yongshu beat Chen Mei Jun and Chen Wan Ju 15-2 and 15-4.

The two Chens made it exciting in the early part of the second game, gaining the upper hand for a short while at 5-4 before the Chinese pair buckled down and rattled off several points to take back the lead for good.

Takako Ida gave Japan hopes of pulling off an upset when she took the third singles from Lee Jyung Won 3-11, 11-8 and 11-8, but the Korean doubles pair of Ra Kyung Min and Jang Hye Ock overcame moments of confused play and incidents of clashing rackets to post a clinching 15-12 and 15-4 win over Yoshiko Iwata and Haruko Matsuda.

Kim Ji Hyun had earlier opened up for the Koreans with a singles victory over Kanako Yonekura 11-0 and 12-9. Lee Joo Hyun then had a hard-fought 11-7 and 11-8 win over Yasuko Mizui.

After Ra and Jang had clinched for Korea, Kim Kyung Ran and Chung Jae Hee beat Shizuka Yamamoto and Saori Itoh 15-7 and 15-8 for Korea's fourth win.

China and Korea will play each other in the qualifier finals tomorrow for ranking purposes. Japan and Taiwan will play a more meaningful rubber with the winner gaining a spot in the Uber Cup Finals.

(mcoe/dsimmons)