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

The tantalising possibilities in team matches that are often missing in individual tournaments were in evidence in the second session of the TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2016.

1day_Sho SasakiRiding high on the elixir of team spirit, Frenchman Thomas Rouxel (featured image), ranked a modest 69 to Japanese opponent Sho Sasaki’s 27, nearly sent a shockwave into the defending champions’ midst in their Thomas Cup Group C. Rouxel recovered from a first game whipping to hold two match points in the third, but Sasaki scrambled to hold him off and prevent a first blow. Japan eventually made it past France 5-0.

“After the easy first game, I relaxed a bit and then as he caught up, I increasingly got nervous,” said a relieved Sasaki.

The thrilling 21-6 17-21 23-21 victory for Sasaki proved to be of great value, for the French had their chances against the Japanese in the Men’s Doubles that followed. Ronan Labar and Baptiste Careme slugged it out on equal terms with the higher-ranked Hiroyuki Endo/Kenichi Hayakawa before falling 21-18 25-23.

Once the two matches were sewn up, Japan stepped on the gas, and shot past the French. Takuma Ueda made it 3-0 with a quick 21-7 21-8 result over Lucas Claerbout. Takeshi Kamura/Keigo Sonoda (2nd doubles) and Riichi Takeshita (3rd singles) ensured the Japanese finished the day with their reputation intact.

Hints of an upset also hovered about in a Uber Cup Group A match between China and Malaysia. Malaysia Open champions Tang Yuanting/Yu Yang were in deep trouble against Vivian Hoo/Woon Khe Wei; the Malaysians were cruising at 18-11 in the third when their challenge inexplicably melted. With the Chinese gaining on them, Hoo and Woon turned leaden-footed, enabling the crowd favourites to get several easy winners. Ten straight points went by in a flash and the Malaysians found themselves 0-2 down, Tee Jing Yi having lost the opening singles to Li Xuerui.

1day_Tang Yuanting & Yu Yang

It was the turn of World Junior champion Goh Jin Wei to go up against the in-form Asian champion Wang Yihan; Goh – still only 16 years old – gave an excellent account of herself before falling 21-16 21-14. The Malaysian teen read the game well and was frequently in the right place; Wang had the bigger weapons, however, and ensured a 3-0 lead for China.

China’s men were also in action, brushing aside Mexico 5-0 (Thomas Cup Group A), while Chinese Taipei dealt the same treatment to Mauritius (Uber Cup Group B).

Mexico were defeated but not disgraced. Although the Chinese were superior on every count, the Mexicans showed their skills and stayed in the rallies, coming away thrilled despite being unable to win a game in five matches. Lino Munoz, Job Castillo and Ramon Garrido in the singles, and Castillo/Munoz and Andres Lopez/Garrido in the doubles did come away with their pride intact.

Luis Ramon Garrido

“It’s a great feeling to be here and play China in China,” said Job Castillo, who lost the second singles to Tian Houwei, 21-7 21-12. “It was a big thing for us to win the Pan Am qualifiers; this is the first time Mexico has qualified to the Thomas Cup Finals. We had a very good preparatory camp before coming here. The Chinese are so fast. We learnt a lot.”

Results:

Thomas Cup:

Group A: China bt Mexico 5-0; Group A: Japan bt France 5-0

Uber Cup:

Group A: China bt Malaysia 5-0; Group B: Chinese Taipei bt Mauritius 5-0

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

China Blow Away Japan – Day 4 Session 3: TOTAL BWF Thomas...

18 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
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