Smashing start for reigning mixed team champions
BANGKOK: Defending champions China showed their might with a strong message that they are not ready to relinquish their mixed team title in the 19th edition of the Asian Junior Badminton Championships began in Bangkok on Saturday.
Winners in the last three editions, the Chinese got their show on the road with a 5-0 whitewash of minnows Kazakhstan and followed it up with another convincing 5-0 win over Singapore in Group A. China are the top seeds in the mixed team event.
South Korea, runners-up to China in the last three editions and drawn in the same group with the reigning champions, were equally devastating in their opening two matches with a 4-1 win over Singapore in their first match followed by a 5-0 win over Kazakhstan. The Koreans, however, are seeded only eighth in Bangkok.
Hosts Thailand, the number two seeds and India (seeded No 5) set the pace in Group D with 5-0 victories over Vietnam and Myanmar respectively.
Indonesia, who have confidently predicted a place in the final in the mixed team event this year, smashed Mongolia 5-0 in their opening Group C match while Malaysia outplayed Taiwan 4-1.
In Indonesia's thumping win over Mongolia, Calvin Kristanto-Bagas Maulana win the boys' doubles match against Tuguldur Boldbaatar-Temuulen Gombodorj with a quickfire 21-0, 21-0 win in only 11 minutes.
India also registered a love set in the girls' doubles through K. Ashwini Bhat-U.K. Mithula in their 21-0, 21-9 win over Myanmar's Dahlia-Thwe Tar Ooin 12 minutes.
RESULTS
GROUP A
China beat Kazakhstan 5-0
China beat Singapore 5-0
S. Korea beat Singapore 4-1
S. Korea beat Kazakhstan 5-0
GROUP B
Japan beat Sri Lanka 5-0
Japan beat Macau 5-0
Hong Kong beat Macau 5-0
Hong Kong beat Sri Lanka 5-0
GROUP C
Malaysia beat Taiwan 4-1
Indonesia beat Mongolia 5-0
GROUP D
Thailand beat Vietnam 5-0
India beat Myanmar 5-0
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