CHINA-ENGLAND SERIES: CHINA CLOSING IN ON SWEEP

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November 12, 1998 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - China, represented by a team of young second-stringers, is closing in on a sweep of a six-tie team exhibition series against host England. At the meet in Saint Austell today, the visitors beat England 3 matches to 2 to take a winning 4-0 lead in the series.

China's three victories today came in the two singles matches and in the women's doubles. Tang Chunyu defeated Rebecca Pantaney 11-8 and 11-5 in the women's singles, Xia Xuanze beat Robert Nock 15-5 and 15-5 in men's singles, and the pair of Lu Ying and Gao Ling trounced Ella Miles and Sara Sankey 15-13 and 15-8 in the women's doubles.

Chris Hunt and Sara Sankey had earlier staked the English side to an early 1-0 lead with a comeback 10-15, 15-7 and 15-4 win over Zhang Yi and Gao Ling in the mixed doubles opener, but the home team failed to hold the advantage in the middle matches.

In the final match - the men's doubles, Hunt and Simon Archer beat Fan Yong and Jian Shan 15-11 and 15-11.

On Monday this week at Gateshead, China had won the first tie in the series 4 matches to 1. Deng Chuanhai and Lu Ying beat James Anderson and Sara Sankey 16-17, 15-11 and 15-6 in mixed doubles, Tang Chunyu beat Tracey Hallam 11-7 and 11-2 in women's singles, Xiao Hui lost to Darren Hall 7-15, 7-15 in men's singles, Lu Ying and Gao Ling beat Ella Miles and Sara Sankey 15-11 and 17-15 in women's doubles, and the pair of Xia Xuanze and Cai Yun defeated James Anderson and Neil Waterman 15-9 and 15-9.

On Tuesday at Grantham, China was the victor, 3 matches to 2. Lu Ying and Gao Ling beat Sarah Hardaker and Jo Davies 15-10 and 15-2 in the women's doubles, Deng Chuanhai and Cai Yun lost to Julian Robertson and Nathan Robertson 13-15 and 16-17 in the men's doubles, Dong Fang beat Tracey Hallam 11-2 and 11-7 in women's singles, Xia Xuanze defeated Darren Hall 15-7 and 17-15 in men's singles, and the mixed doubles combination of Zhang Yi and Gao Ling went down to defeat to Nathan Robertson and Jo Davies in a very closely contested match 13-15, 15-13 and 12-15.

On Wednesday in Portsmouth, China took an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the series. Lu Ying and Gao Ling beat Jo Goode and Donna Kellogg 15-9 and 15-4 in the women's doubles, Xia Xuanze and Cai Yun lost to Simon Archer and Chris Hunt 8-15 and 4-15 in men's doubles, Xiao Hui turned the tables first-day winner Darren Hall 15-9, 8-15 and 15-9 in the men's singles, and Pi Hongyan beat Rebecca Pantaney 11-5 and 11-4 in women's singles. In the mixed doubles match, Deng Chuanhai and Lu Ying lost to England's top combination of Simon Archer and Jo Goode 13-15, 15-10 and 11-15.

The remaining ties in the series will be played on Saturday at the town of Weston-super-Mare and on Sunday in Stevenage.

(pa/ds)

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