Dongguan: Except for men’s doubles, China faced little challenges to defeat Indonesia 3-1 in the Sudirman Cup semi-finals on Saturday.
Despite playing London Olympic champions – Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng in the men’s doubles match, Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia have a massive dominance over the veteran pair from the hosts and comfortably swept aside the Chinese pair 21-16, 21-17 in 33 minutes.
“I have no regrets. This is my last Sudirman Cup. Now, I am just trying to enjoy every moment whenever I pair with Fu Haifeng,” said Cai Yun.
The London Olympic gold medalist Li Xuerui was trailed 3-5 to Bellaetrix Manuputty in the first set of the women’s singles match, when the Indonesian shuttler Bellaetrix Manuputty was forced to withdraw from the match due to a knee injury. Manuputty’s withdrawal allowed China to level the score at 1-1.
“When I turned back, I saw she has kneeled down and looked like she was in a lot of pain,” said Li Xuerui.
World No.1 Chen Long edged past Christie Jonatan in the men’s singles match to put China back to a 2-1 lead.
In women’s doubles match, Indonesia women’s doubles Nitya Krishinda Maheswari/Greysia Polii took advantage of a shaky scratch pair Yu Yang/Tang Yuanting of China to win the first set 21-17. But the Chinese pair found their rhythms and fought back to win the next two sets 21-17, 21-15 to seal the tie for China with overall score of 3-1.
China will play either South Korea or Japan at the Sudirman Cup badminton finals on Sunday.
