体坛英语新闻：Defending champion China roll into semifinals with Malaysia

GUANGZHOU, Southeast China, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Six-time winner China blanked Indonesia 5-0 in their final group match at 11th Sudirman Cup world team badminton championship here on Thursday, while Malaysia marched to their first-ever semis.

    Olympic silver medallists Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng won the men's doubles by a narrow margin, defeating newly-paired Hendra Setiawan/Mohanmmad Ahsan 21-10, 19-21, 21-12.

Cai Yun (L) and Fu Haifeng of China compete during the men's doubles competition against Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan of Indonesia at the 11th Sudirman Cup World Team Badminton Championship in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, May 14, 2009. Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng won the match 2-1.

Setiawan and Kido Markis beat Cai/Fu in the men's doubles final at last year's Beijing Olympics. "I don't know why coaches decided to rest Kido. But it was the coaches' decision and I just do as I was told to," said Setiawan.

    "They played better than us and we had three had serves. Maybe we can beat them the next time," said Ahsan.

    Cai admitted that the change of the pairing surprised him. "We prepared to play Kido/Setiawan," said Cai. "But anyway, we are so familiar with each other and it didn't affect us.

    "We won the first set quite easily and we got a bit relaxed in the second set," he added.

Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan of Indonesia compete during the men's doubles competition against Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng of China at the 11th Sudirman Cup World Team Badminton Championship in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, May 14, 2009

Wang Yihan came from behind to beat injured Maria Kristin Yulianti 16-21, 21-5, 21-10 in the women's singles.

    "I'm not familiar with Yulianti because I only watched her playing through video," Wang said. "I could not adapt to her rhythm in the beginning but I gradually adjusted and won."

    Yulianti limped off the court because of her right knee injury. She said afterwards that it was hard for her to continue during the match.

    "The injury really hurts. I could have tied the match at 1-1 if I was healthy," said Yulianti, the world No.15.

    Lin "Super" Dan overcame a sluggish start to beat Simon Santoso 13-21, 21-14, 21-11. "I had really a poor start tonight," said Lin. "I felt quite different from I was in the previous two matches. I hope my form will becoming better in the semifinals."

Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng (front) of China compete during the men's doubles competition against Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan of Indonesia at the 11th Sudirman Cup World Team Badminton Championship in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, May 14, 2009.

Du Jing/Yu Yang crushed Poili Greysia/Nitya Krishinda Maheswari in the women's doubles 21-15, 21-13 before Zheng Bo/Ma Jin closed the match with a 22-20, 19-21 and 21-14 victory over over Devin Lahardi Fitriawan/Lita Nurlita in the mixed doubles.

    "It is a good thing for players to have tough matches," said Li Yongbo, head-coach of Chinese national team. "Players will be more careful in the upcoming games."

    Wong Mew Choo secured Malaysia the very important point for the ticket to their first Sudirman Cup semifinals in the history of the 20-year-old competition.

    Things didn't start off well with the mixed pairing of Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari/Wong Pei Tty succumbing to Thomas Laybourn/Kamilla Juhl.

Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan of Indonesia compete during the men's doubles competition against Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng of China at the 11th Sudirman Cup World Team Badminton Championship in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, May 14, 2009.

Lee Chong Wei evened the score with a straight set victory over Jan Jorgenhen who replaced Gade.

    Lee is likely to face Lin "Super" Dan in the semifinals. "I'm not happy with my performance recently and it will be tough against Lin Dan," said Lee. "But this is a team event and we will try our best to win."

    Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong had inspired performance in the men's doubles, winning 21-9, 21-14 over Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen.

    After leading 2-1, Wong Mew Choo came on the court to deliver the winning point.

    "I am so happy that I could give my team the winning point. But it was not easy on the court. The pressure was on me. What if I failed and the tie would have gone into the very last match, putting the pressure on my teammates," said Wong.

    "It was a relief when I scored the winning point and we can now look forward to playing China in the semis," she added.

    Denmark had to do without women's world number one Tine Rasmussen, who missed the tournament with injury, and men's world number two Peter Gade, who was absent from the tie after a migraine that saw him sent to hospital.

    Chief coach Finn Traerup-Hansen acknowledged he had had little luck.

    "I have to be honest and I say it's not been our tournament at all," he said.

    "We haven't had Tine and Peter of course, but at least one positive is that it gave some practice to the next generation."

    India created history by breaking into the Group 2 for the first time after they trounced Bulgaria 3-0 in the promotion playoff.

    Australia will be relegated to bottom Group 4 at the next Sudirman Cup after losing 3-1 to Sweden in a Group 3 playoff while Sweden retains its berth in Group 3 at the world mixed team championship in 2011.