China Blow Away Japan – Day 4 Session 3: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

China exacted some revenge for their 2014 Thomas Cup loss to Japan with a crushing 5-0 defeat of the defending champions in the final Group A match of the TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016.

China went in with their big guns against Japan, who were depleted by the loss of last Thomas Cup hero Kento Momota.

Sho Sasaki led the team instead, and to everybody’s surprise, 4day_Endo & Hayakawathe veteran came out with a fiery opening spell against Chen Long. Sho set a terrific pace, smashing with accuracy and power and defending like his life depended on it. The pace, however, could last only a game and a half. He admitted later that his legs had begun to feel the strain midway through the second.

Chen had it rather easy in the third, winning the first point for China: 20-22 21-17 21-12.

“I wanted to give it everything today,” said Chen. “Sho Sasaki played an excellent match despite being over 30 years old. I was excited all through the match. I was trailing him in the first game; I did feel a bit of pressure. My confidence increased after I won a couple of line challenges in the second.”

The doubles that followed was a close contest for the most part: Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa trading blows with Fu Haifeng and Zhang Nan in a marathon 82-minute match before losing their way late in the third: 21-19 25-27 21-15.

“They are a tough pair to beat,” said Fu. “We basically talked to each other all through the match, reminding each other not to make mistakes. That was the secret to our success today. We maintained a good mindset, there were no fluctuations in our concentration.”

Lin Dan was expected to beat Takuma Ueda and he did without breaking much of a sweat, 21-18 21-8. He sounded an ominous warning to China’s next opponents: “This is only the group stage. We wanted to use this to encourage ourselves. This was very good preparation for our campaign.”

4day_Fu Haifeng & Zhang Nan

New pair Li Junhui and Zheng Siwei (featured image) had too much firepower for Takeshi Kamura/Keigo Sonoda, taking just 34 minutes to give China a 4-0 lead.

Riichi Takeshita promised to earn a consolation win for Japan by winning the first game against Tian Houwei, but the Chinese grew stronger as the match progressed and duly sealed a 5-0 win for his team.

In Thomas Cup Group D, New Zealand overcame South Africa 4-1, while in the Uber Cup, China destroyed Denmark 5-0 (Group A) and Germany prevailed 4-1 over Australia in Group D.

Thomas & Uber Cup News

Li-Ning – A Stringing Success!

Li-Ning – A Stringing Success!

20 June 2016
China Brook No Challenge – Uber Cup Review

China Brook No Challenge – Uber Cup Review

27 May 2016
A Momentous Event for Europe – Thomas Cup Review

A Momentous Event for Europe – Thomas Cup Review

25 May 2016
Denmark Crowned Kings of the World: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

Denmark Crowned Kings of the World: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup...

22 May 2016
Title No.14 for China – TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

Title No.14 for China – TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals...

21 May 2016
Denmark Fly High – Semi-finals Session 2: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

Denmark Fly High – Semi-finals Session 2: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber...

21 May 2016
Indonesia Storm into Final – Semi-finals Session 1: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

Indonesia Storm into Final – Semi-finals Session 1: TOTAL BWF Thomas &...

20 May 2016
Korea Shock China; Japan Out – Quarter-finals Session 2: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

Korea Shock China; Japan Out – Quarter-finals Session 2: TOTAL BWF Thomas...

20 May 2016
Shivani Aces it for India – Quarter-finals Session 1: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

Shivani Aces it for India – Quarter-finals Session 1: TOTAL BWF Thomas...

19 May 2016
China Draw Korea in Thomas Cup Quarter-finals

China Draw Korea in Thomas Cup Quarter-finals

19 May 2016
Japan Struggle to Beat India – Day 4 Session 2: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

Japan Struggle to Beat India – Day 4 Session 2: TOTAL BWF...

18 May 2016
Denmark Top Group D – Day 4 Session 1: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

Denmark Top Group D – Day 4 Session 1: TOTAL BWF Thomas...

18 May 2016
Indonesia Outclass Thailand – Day 3 Session 3: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

Indonesia Outclass Thailand – Day 3 Session 3: TOTAL BWF Thomas &...

17 May 2016
Korea Singed by Malaysian Singles – Day 3 Session 2: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

Korea Singed by Malaysian Singles – Day 3 Session 2: TOTAL BWF...

17 May 2016
Kjaersfeldt, Madsen Drive Danish Success – Day 3 Session 1: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

Kjaersfeldt, Madsen Drive Danish Success – Day 3 Session 1: TOTAL BWF...

17 May 2016
China Down Battling French – Day 2 Session 3: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

China Down Battling French – Day 2 Session 3: TOTAL BWF Thomas...

16 May 2016
Indonesia Prevail Over Hong Kong – Day 2 Session 2: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

Indonesia Prevail Over Hong Kong – Day 2 Session 2: TOTAL BWF...

16 May 2016
Thailand Continue to Cruise – Day 2 Session 1: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

Thailand Continue to Cruise – Day 2 Session 1: TOTAL BWF Thomas...

16 May 2016
Madsen Swings it for Denmark – Day 1 Session 3: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

Madsen Swings it for Denmark – Day 1 Session 3: TOTAL BWF...

15 May 2016
Japan Shaken by Inspired France – Day 1 Session 2: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

Japan Shaken by Inspired France – Day 1 Session 2: TOTAL BWF...

15 May 2016
Strong Start by Thailand – Day 1 Session 1: TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016

Strong Start by Thailand – Day 1 Session 1: TOTAL BWF Thomas...

15 May 2016
TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016: Opening Salvos Fired as Teams Get Set

TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016: Opening Salvos Fired as...

14 May 2016
TOTAL BWF Uber Cup Preview: China, Japan Hold the Aces

TOTAL BWF Uber Cup Preview: China, Japan Hold the Aces

12 May 2016
TOTAL BWF Thomas Cup Preview: Can Denmark Break the Jinx?

TOTAL BWF Thomas Cup Preview: Can Denmark Break the Jinx?

11 May 2016
Japan Face French Obstacle in Thomas Cup Opener

Japan Face French Obstacle in Thomas Cup Opener

19 April 2016
Powerhouses China, Japan in Group A of Thomas Cup

Powerhouses China, Japan in Group A of Thomas Cup

21 March 2016
Defending Champions Japan Seeded 5th for Thomas Cup

Defending Champions Japan Seeded 5th for Thomas Cup

4 March 2016
Mexico, New Zealand in Thomas Cup final round

Mexico, New Zealand in Thomas Cup final round

23 February 2016
Indonesia, China Emerge Champions – Badminton Asia Championships finals

Indonesia, China Emerge Champions – Badminton Asia Championships finals

22 February 2016
Denmark Unchallenged at the Top: European Men’s & Women’s Team Championships finals

Denmark Unchallenged at the Top: European Men’s & Women’s Team Championships finals

22 February 2016
SA, Mauritius Crowned Champions: Africa Continental Team Championships finals

SA, Mauritius Crowned Champions: Africa Continental Team Championships finals

21 February 2016
New Zealand, Australia Reign Supreme: Oceania Men’s & Women’s Team Championships finals

New Zealand, Australia Reign Supreme: Oceania Men’s & Women’s Team Championships finals

21 February 2016
Mexico Clinch Men’s Title: Pan Am Team Continental Championships finals

Mexico Clinch Men’s Title: Pan Am Team Continental Championships finals

21 February 2016
Mexico, Canada in Final: Pan Am Team Continental Championships – Day 3

Mexico, Canada in Final: Pan Am Team Continental Championships – Day 3

20 February 2016
Bulgaria, Spain in Last-Four: European Men’s & Women’s Team Championships quarter-finals   

Bulgaria, Spain in Last-Four: European Men’s & Women’s Team Championships quarter-finals  

20 February 2016
China Knocked Out – Badminton Asia Team Championships quarter-finals

China Knocked Out – Badminton Asia Team Championships quarter-finals

20 February 2016
Garrido, Ho-Shue Shine: Pan Am Team Continental Championships – Day 2

Garrido, Ho-Shue Shine: Pan Am Team Continental Championships – Day 2

19 February 2016
Finland in Quarter-finals: European Men’s & Women’s Team Championships – Day 3

Finland in Quarter-finals: European Men’s & Women’s Team Championships – Day 3

19 February 2016
India Stun China: Badminton Asia Team Championships – Day 4

India Stun China: Badminton Asia Team Championships – Day 4

19 February 2016
Australia Win Exciting Final – Oceania Mixed Team Championships

Australia Win Exciting Final – Oceania Mixed Team Championships

18 February 2016
Estonia Edge Past Hungary: European Men’s & Women’s Team Championships – Day 2

Estonia Edge Past Hungary: European Men’s & Women’s Team Championships – Day...

18 February 2016
Indonesia Beat Chinese Taipei: Badminton Asia Team Championships – Day 3

Indonesia Beat Chinese Taipei: Badminton Asia Team Championships – Day 3

18 February 2016
Iris Wang Guides USA to Win: Pan Am Team Continental Championships – Day 1

Iris Wang Guides USA to Win: Pan Am Team Continental Championships –...

18 February 2016
Easy for New Zealand: Oceania Mixed Team Championships – Day 2

Easy for New Zealand: Oceania Mixed Team Championships – Day 2

17 February 2016
Narrow Win for Ukraine – European Men’s & Women’s Team Championships – Day 1

Narrow Win for Ukraine – European Men’s & Women’s Team Championships –...

17 February 2016
Close Shave for Malaysia: Badminton Asia Team Championships – Day 2

Close Shave for Malaysia: Badminton Asia Team Championships – Day 2

17 February 2016
Strong Start for New Caledonia – Oceania Mixed Team Championships Day 1

Strong Start for New Caledonia – Oceania Mixed Team Championships Day 1

16 February 2016
China Survive Scare: Badminton Asia Team Championships – Day 1

China Survive Scare: Badminton Asia Team Championships – Day 1

16 February 2016
PARTNERS