Home2018It is a repeat China - Japan final in women's Badminton Asia...

It is a repeat China – Japan final in women’s Badminton Asia Team Championships

It is a dream final again in the E-Plus Badminton Asia Women's Team Championships with defending champions China playing Japan in a repeat final on Sunday.

At the last championships in Hyderabad in India in 2016 China beaat Japan 3-2 in the final.

The Chinese overcame South Korea 3-1 while Japan had to stave off a fierce resistance from the Indonesians who succumbed in three-game battles which ended with the Japanese coming off 3-0 winners.

Japan head coach Park Joo-bong was quick to admit that "it was a really tough match" although we won the tie 3-0" against Indonesia.

"It will be another tough, tough match against China in the final tomorrow (Sunday). The Chinese are strong in all three singles while the doubles pairs that are new. This is the first time I am seeing China's doubles pairs…and they look good," said Joo-bong.

Akane Yamaguchi, ranked No 2, was taken the full distance, coming back from a game down to win 17-21, 21-13, 21-17 against Fitriani Fitriani for the first point which came after 61 minutes.

Rio Olympics champions Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi had to say even longer on the court – 88 minutes – before they prevailed 20-22, 21-19, 21-18 against Indonesia's rising pair Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu for Japan's second point.

Nozomi Okuhara secured the winning point for Japan but it was also struggle for the Japanese in her 21-5, 19-21, 21-15 win in 55 minutes over junior world champion Gregoria Mariska Tunjung,
The Koreans were left disappointed in their failure to beat China.

"We came here with a mission…to play in the final. However, we have lost in the semi-finals to China. We flopped in the singles and that turned out to be the turning point against us," said Korea coach Kim Jih-yun.

Former junior world champion Chen Yufei needed 40 minutes before prevailing 21-14, 21-15 over Korean number one Sung Ji-hyun 21-14, 21-15.

The Korean hopes were raised when Lee So-hee-Shin Seung-chan tamed Dong Wenjing-Feng Xueying in straight games 21-13, 21-9 to make it 1-1.

He Bingjiao restored China's lead when she edged Lee Jang-mi 21-19, 21-19 in 52 minutes before Cao Tong-wei-Yu Zheng clinched he winning point after a 21-17, 21-14 win over Chang Ye-na-Kim Hye-rin.
 
RESULTS (SEMI-FINALS)

WOMEN

JAPAN beat INDONESIA 3-0
(Japan first)
WS1: Akane Yamaguchi  beat Fitriani Fitriani 17-21, 21-13, 21-17
WD1: Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi beat Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu 20-22, 21-19, 21-18
WS2: Nozomi Okuhara beat Gregoria Mariska 21-5, 19-21, 21-15

CHINA beat KOREA 3-1
(China first)
WS1: Chen Yufei beat Sung Ji-hyun 21-14, 21-15
WD1: Dong Wenjing-Feng Xueying lost Lee So-hee-Shin Seung-chan 13-21, 9-21
WS2: He Bingjiao beat Lee Jang-mi 21-19, 21-19
WD2: Cao Tong We-Yu Zheng beat Chang Ye-na-Kim Hye-rin 21-17, 21-14 

 
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