China, Japan to clash in semis
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, May 24, 2012
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Lin Dan of China returns a shot during men's singles quarterfinal match in the Thomas Cup in Wuhan, Hubei Province, yesterday. |
China will take on Japan in the semifinals of the Thomas Cup team competition in Wuhan, Hubei Province, today when the host eased past Malaysia 3-0.
Malaysia had no answer to the Chinese might without its injured star player and world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei who pulled out of the tournament on Tuesday.
Lee will be out for up to a month after tearing a tendon in his right ankle that is likely to dent his preparations for an elusive Olympic gold medal in London.
Earlier, Kenichi Tago beat his idol Taufik Hidayat as Japan overcame Indonesia 3-2. The 22-year-old Japanese shuttler, who has shot to No. 8 in the world this year, confidently dispatched Hidayat, a gold medallist at the Athens 2004 Olympics and former world No. 2, but now ranked 12 in the world.
"Taufik is my idol. But because the Thomas Cup is a team competition, it is nation against nation on court, so I could see him as my enemy," Tago said after his 21-12, 21-17 victory and second career win over the fiery Indonesian.
"But after the match, he is my idol again," he said.
The 30-year-old Hidayat, who is contemplating retirement after the London Games, said it was normal for young players to beat him now, but held back on sharing Tago's joy.
"If I lose to an Indonesian youngster I am happy, but I am not happy to lose to a Japanese youngster," he said, while praising Tago for his calm and control.
"Japan never wins against China so it is hard to say (for the semis). But Japanese players have the fighting spirit," said Noriyasu Hirata, who beat the first Indonesian doubles in two games with his partner Hirokatsu Hashimoto.
In the second quarterfinals, traditional European powerhouse Denmark went through Russia easily 3-0.
In the women's competition, the Uber Cup, China showed no mercy against a plucky German side, finishing them off 3-0 but not without dropping a number of points and one game.
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