bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

Hong Kong suffered their second defeat in the Sudirman Cup as they were thrashed 5-0 by hosts China in group 1B at the Capital Gymnasium in Beijing last night.

Having lost their opening game to Indonesia, Hong Kong again found the opposition too strong  throughout the 21/2-hour match.

With two straight victories, China  advanced to the semi-finals with Indonesia, who defeated Sweden 4-1 in another group 1B match last night. The two teams will meet tonight to decide their final group positions.

Earlier yesterday in group 1A, defending champions South Korea and Denmark also both booked their berths in the semi-finals of the world mixed team championships. South Korea whitewashed England 5-0 while Denmark disposed of Thailand 4-1.

'The result was not unexpected as China are  favourites for the tournament and too strong for us' said Hong Kong  head coach Chan Chi-choi last night.

'Our top priority will be against Sweden [today]. It's going to be difficult as both teams are very close and have to battle for a place to remain in the elite group.'

China opened their account last night with a victory in the men's singles.

World number five Bao Chunlai was extended to three sets by Agus Hariyanto of Hong Kong, but was never in danger of losing with his powerful cross-court smashes.

The Chinese player won 15-5, 13-15, 15-5.

The 17-year-old Yip Pui-yin showed she had much  to learn on the international stage as the Hong Kong shuttler could manage only two points from world number one Xie Xingfeng in the women's singles. Xie had an easy passage, 11-2, 11-0, over the youngster to give the hosts a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Hong Kong's Liu Kwok-wa and Albertus Njoto hardly had a chance in the men's doubles against reigning All England champion Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng, losing in straight sets 15-5, 15-1.

Although China had already sealed the tie,  they refused to let up with  two more overwhelming victories.  Youngster Yip paired up with Hong Kong's number one singles player Wang Chen, but  they lost 15-8, 15-2 to Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen in the women's doubles. In the final match, Zhang Jun and Gao Ling, double Olympic mixed doubles champions, thrashed Hariyanto and Li Wing-mui  in straight sets, 15-1, 15-0.



SAR still seeking first victory after crashing to China