SUDIRMAN CUP 2013 Day 4 – Scotland tops Level 2, Australia shines

Scotland beat Sweden to top the Group A of Level 2 and will be taking on the winner of France vs. Netherlands to be played on Thursday.

By Raphael Sachetat, live from Putra Stadium, Kuala Lumpur. Photos:  Badmintonphoto (live)

If Milton Keynes is missing Imogen Bankier and Robert Blair, Scotland is surely happy that these two are back in their squad as they are to dispute the 13^th best spot of the ongoing World Mixed Team Championships. The Scottish team beat Sweden in an empty stadium – 50 people in the 15,000-seat venue  – by the closest margin 3-2 and adds this victory to their collection (4-1 against the USA and 4-1 against Russia earlier, which had been the major upset of the event in Level 2). Scotland, led by John Quinn and Yvette Luo Yun are now in the lead of the group and will take on either France or the Netherlands.

Should France prevail, it will bring back memories to Quinn, who was the national doubles coach in Paris not so long ago. The French edged Austria easily 5-0, leaving Brice Leverdez on the bench while rookie Thomas Rouxel (photo) did the job against Luka Wraber. Leverdez will play Eric Pang on Thursday for one of the crucial matches of the tie for the top of the group.

The outcome, however, won’t matter so much as the country finishing 13^th –beating all other teams in Level 2 – will not automatically be promoted in the top 12 pairs as used to be the case in the Sudirman Cup a few years back.  Instead, each new edition of the Sudirman will feature the top 12 teams depending on their world ranking, not on their previous performance in the same event.

Australia and its charming duo of Jacqueline Guan and Gronya Somerville outplayed a spirited Swiss team 3-2 and finish second in the group, leaving Vietnam on top of Level 3 B. The mixed of juniors and elder players seems to be working for Australia, even if the Verdet Kessler (photo) couldn’t nail her point against the experienced Sabrina Jaquet.

Vietnam will face Ukraine, who beat the Turks 4-1 to top their subgroup.

The quarter-finals of the Sudirman Cup will be played on Thursday as the top teams had a day of rest Wednesday.

Day 4 results:

Level 2
Netherlands beat Canada  4-1
France beat Austria  5-0
Russia beat USA  4-1
Scotland beat Sweden  3-2
Level 3
Ukraine beat Turkey  4-1
Philippines beat Sri Lanka  3-2
Australia beat Switzerland 3-2
Lithuania beat Kazakhstan  4-1