Chinese Uber Cup team advances to quarter-finals
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-05-11 10:15

Chinese girls made it to the quarter-finals of the Uber Cup by topping the Group A, following a 5-0 victory over their Dutch opponents at the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta Monday.

Gong Ruina of China in action. Defending champions in the Uber Cup, China's women look practically invincible, with Gong leading a squad containing four of the world's top six. [AFP]

The reigning champions, seeking their ninth title, or fourth ina row, found no big trouble to overcome the Netherlands, which made a change from its best line-up when beating hosts Indonesia in earlier match.

World number one Gong Ruina put China in the lead after beating Karina De Wit, who replaced China-born Yao Jie as Holland's first singles. But Judith Meulnedijks' incredible spirit and precise plays in the net gave a tiring game to Zhou Mi, who needed three sets to defeat the tall Dutch girl 11-5, 10-13, 11-5.

Indonesia Open titlist Xie Xingfang was no match to Brenda Beenhakker and briefly closed the game 11-2, 11-2.

"There is nothing special with our performance this evening as the Dutch team didn't show up with their best lineups," Chinese team manager Li Yong Bo told journalists after Xie-Brenda match.

Yang Wei and her new pair Huang Sui beat Van Dooemalen/Eva Krab15-0, 15-2 and world's number four Wei Yili/ Zhao Tingting trashed Karina De Wit/Brenda Beenhakker 15-1, 15-3.

The women's world team badminton championship has 12 participating teams divided into four groups. Only the group leader will directly enter the quarter-final stage without facing play-offs.

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