Japan’s badminton team defeated Malaysia 4-1 on Thursday (September 30) to win Group D at the 2021 Sudirman Cup in Vantaa, Finland. Both teams will advance to the quarterfinals.
Malaysia took the lead from the start as Tokyo Olympic bronze medalists Aaron Chia and Soh Uiik defeated Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi to win the opening men’s doubles match 22-20, 14-21, 21-16. I stole it.
Despite Akane Yamaguchi defeating Kisona Selvadurai in the women’s singles match, Japan drew. Yamaguchi won both sets 21-14.
In the men’s singles match, Japan’s Kento Momota defeated Li Zhijia (21-18, 21-10), giving Japan a 2-1 lead going into the final two matches of the day. Momota’s victory was a comeback for the two-time (2018-19) world champions, who were eliminated in the group stage at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
In the women’s doubles match, Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida defeated Tan Parley and Tinar Muralitharan, giving Japan a 3-1 lead and clinching Group D victory. The Japanese duo won the match 21-16, 21-17.
The team’s victory was assured, with the Japanese mixed doubles team of Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Tomei overwhelming the Fu Panglong and Chia Yixi 21-16, 21-19.
The quarterfinals will consist of a draw where the top team from each group plays against the second place team from another group.
The group winners are China, South Korea, Indonesia and Japan, while the runners-up are Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Denmark and Malaysia.
China has won the tournament 11 times, South Korea four times, and Indonesia won the first tournament in 1989. No other country could lift the trophy.
