Thailand downed
[BADMINTON] Thailand, who rested their best players including Japan Open champion Boonsak Ponsana, suffered a disappointing 5-0 loss to reigning champions China in their opening match in the elite Division A of the Sudirman Cup World Mixed Team Badminton Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday.
The Thai squad, who finished seventh in Beijing two years ago, lost the first rubber in the mixed doubles when Songpon Anugritayawon and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul went down 21-13 21-12 in just 29 minutes to world No 6 Zheng Bo and Gao Ling. World champ and All-England winner Xie Xinfang stretched the lead to 2-0, taming Soratja Chansrisukot in a one-sided battle 21-11 21-9. World No 1 Lin Dan proved a tough nut to crack for Poompat Sapkulchananart. The Thai rising star lost 21-18 21-14. In the fourth rubber, world No 1 Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng made short work of Tesana Panvisavas and Phattapol Ngernsrisuk 21-0 21-11 in 22 minutes. In the mixed doubles encounter, Yang Wei and Zhao Tingting crushed Duanganong Aroonkesorn and Kunchala 21-8 21-9 to give China a convincing 5-0 win.
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