THOMAS CUP – Hong Kong snatches last quarter-final spot

Hong Kong’s men’s badminton team upset Thailand to take the last remaining quarter-final spot at the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in Kunshan.

By Don Hearn.  Photos: Yohan Nonotte for Badmintonphoto (live)

With one day remaining in the round robin phase of the 2016 Thomas and Uber Cup Finals, only one quarter-final spot remained up for grabs in either the men’s or women’s competition.  In Group B of the Thomas Cup competition, Indonesia was assured of a spot in the final eight, having won its first two ties.  India, on the other hand, was already out after losing its first two ties.

Hong Kong and Thailand, each with one win and one loss as of Wednesday morning, faced off for the other spot from Group B.  With singles ace Boonsak Ponsana riding the bench all week, Thailand was struggling and against the singles-strong Hong Kong team, they had an uphill battle.

Sure enough, Ng Ka Long, Hu Yun, and Wei Nan (pictured top) all came through in straight games and Hong Kong added a win by doubles pair Or Chin Chung / Tang Chun Man over 2014 World Junior Champions  Kedren/Puavaranukroh to polish off the 4-1 victory.

Earlier in the day, Denmark suffered two upsets to its own enviable singles squad.  World #24 Hsu Jen Hao (pictured bottom) of Chinese Taipei took down #5 Jan Jorgensen and with the tie already won, Hans-Kristian Vittinghus saved 5 match points but not the 6th and 21-year-old Wang Tzu Wei claimed the last point for his team, which will also feature in the quarter-finals.

Click here for complete Wednesday results