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ASIAN JUNIORS: CHINESE DEPTH SINKS MALAYSIAN BOYS AND KOREAN GIRLS

June 18, 1998 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - China made good use of the depth of their national junior squad yesterday at the finals of the Asian junior men's and women's badminton team championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Chinese boys had fallen behind to the Malaysians 0 matches to 2, but came back with strong performances in the last three to retain the junior men's team crown. The Chinese girls demolished Korea 5 matches to 0 and likewise retained the junior women's team title that they had won in Manila, Philippines last year.

In the boy's team final, singles top-seed Zhang Yi of China was upset by Malaysia's Yeoh Bin Kay 13-15 and 6-15; Zhang Yang and Chen Yu were then beaten by Chan Chong Ming and Charles Khoo 15-12, 8-15 and 5-15, putting the Chinese junior men behind 0-2. Cai Yun then whipped Ong Huck Lee 15-4 and 15-7 to post the final's first win for China. Zhang Yi and Jiang Shan followed with a 15-9 and 15-11 victory over Tan Wei Meng and Teo Kok Seng to put the outcome of the final in the hands of the third singles players - Xiao Li of China and Allan Tai of Malaysia.

Tai who was Malaysia's hero in their semifinal upset of Indonesia on Tuesday with his 15-6 and 15-13 victory over Hariawan in the third singles could not come up with a similiar performance against Xiao. Xiao was the less nervous and steadier yesterday and he easily beat the Malaysian 15-9 and 15-8 to give China the junior men's team crown.

In the junior women's team final, the experienced Gong Ruina of China took the first singles match, beating Lee Hyo Jung 11-8 and 11-8. Hu Ting beat Jun Jae Hyun 11-7 and 13-10 to put China up 2-0. Gong then teamed up with Huang Sui and defeated Lee and Jun Woul Sihk 15-4, 9-15 and 15-10 to clinch the title for China.

China's Xie Xingfang and Dong Fang beat Lee Ji Sun and Lee Joon Boon 15-3 and 15-2 in the second doubles, and Rong Yi defeated Jun Woul Sihk in the third singles 11-1 and 11-2 to complete the rout of Korea.

The Indonesian and Taiwanese boys finished in third place. Indonesia was edged by Malaysia 2-3 in Tuesday's semifinals, while Taiwan was taken out by China 1-4.

Indonesia and Taiwan also finished in third place in the junior women's team championships. Indonesia was nipped by Korea 2-3 in the semifinals. Taiwan was whitewashed by China 0-5.

In the boys' team quarterfinals played on Tuesday morning, China beat India 3-2, Korea nipped Taiwan 3-2, Indonesia walloped Japan 5-0 and Malaysia defeated Thailand 3-2.

In the girls' team quarterfinals played on Monday evening, China beat Sri Lanka 3-2, Taiwan upset Japan 4-1, Korea defeated Malaysia 4-1, and Indonesia put out Singapore 4-1.

(jpcf/dsimmons)