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Chan Kin-wa

Coach Tim He Yiming demanded Hong Kong pull up their socks after the team's relegation to the second tier of competition in the world mixed team Sudirman Cup.
Hong Kong have been dropped to group two of the biennial badminton championships, to be held in Dongguan in May.
Hong Kong were in group one when it was held in Kuala Lumpur two years ago, but low world rankings in the men's and women's doubles cost Hong Kong dearly.
Grouping for the Sudirman Cup is based on aggregated ranking points of a country's best player/pairs in all five disciplines as of earlier this month.
Even if we are not in the title race group, we have to do our best in every match because it involves world ranking points, which will affect the players' respective Olympic qualification campaigns
Tim He Yiming, Hong Kong coach
The world's top 12 teams play in group one and the next eight teams in group two, followed by groups three and four.
"Even if we are not in the title race group, we have to do our best in every match because it involves world ranking points, which will affect the players' respective Olympic qualification campaigns," said He.
"The qualification period will begin in May and every competition will be keen in every tournament and the Sudirman Cup will be no exception."
Only group one teams can compete for the Cup, with top seeds China again the favourites, having been crowned champions nine times out of a total 13 since the inaugural event was staged in 1989. Singapore are the top seeds in group two, followed by Hong Kong.
Hong Kong have the strongest rankings in the men’s singles where Hu Yun, Wong Wing-ki and Ng Ka-long are ranked 15th, 23rd and 32nd respectively.
Yip Pui-yin is the highest ranked women’s singles from Hong Kong in 26th, followed by Cheung Ngan-yi’s 50th. In the mixed doubles, Lee Chun-hei and Chau Hoi-wah are 16th. Each match is decided by a best of five ties featuring all five disciplines.
Ng and Cheung won the men’s and women’s singles respectively in the Austrian Open, an International Challenge tournament, in Vienna last month and coach He hoped the two youngsters could come through the ranks as soon as possible.


Hong Kong players under pressure to get back in top flight of Sudirman Cup

Hong Kong's Hu Yun in action against China's Lin Dan in Incheon last year. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong coach Tim He Yiming.

Sport

Hong Kong