China blank Indonesia to enter final in Thomas Cup

Tokyo, May 5 (UNI) Holders China crushed former champions Indonesia 3-0 without dropping a game to sail into the final of the Thomas Cup badminton tournament here today.

The Indonesians, who won five consecutive titles before China snapped the string in the biennial event in 2004, were expected to put up a tough fight against their traditional rivals but they went down without much resistance.

World number one and reigning All England Chamoppion Lin Dan outplayed Olympic gold medallist Hidayat Taufik to set 1-0 up for his team.

Not to be ruffled, the Indonesian world number five doubles pair of Hadiyanto Luluk and Alven Yalianto stretched the two rank higher Chinese pair of Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng to deuce but lost steam in the second game and lost the match 22-24, 17-21.

Bao Chunlai, ranked ninth, then completed the rout getting the better of world number 20 Kuncoro Soni Dwi 21-17, 24-22.

China will take on the winner of Denmark and Malaysia in the final.

Results: Lin Dan bt Hidayat Taufik 21-16, 218 Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng bt Hadiyanto Luluk and Alven Yulianto 24-22, 21-17 Bao Chunlai bt Kuncoro Soni Dwi 21-17, 24-22 UNI XC PDS AY DS1420