UBER CUP 2014 QF – Korea survives a scare, Japan sweeps Denmark

Bae Yeon Ju’s instrumental win settled a nervous Korean bench against an upset threat by Thailand.  On the other hand, Mitani’s critical 23-21 3^rd game victory sparked an inspired Japanese sweep of their European opponent Denmark.

By Emzi Regala

Banking on strong doubles pairings against a team with formidable singles players, 2010 champions and 2012 runners-up Korea desperately needed to win one of the first two singles matches to avoid a deadlock-breaking 5^th singles match where opposition Thailand dangerously holds an advantage.  World Champion Ratchanok Intanon (pictured below)  lived up to her billing as she set the tone right for Thailand, toppling Sung Ji Hyun in 2 straight games with identical results, 21-15 21-15.

World #6 Jang Ye Na and Kim So Young put Korea on the scoreboard as they expectedly won over Sapsiree Taerattanachai / Kunchala Voravichitchaikul, levelling the score at one apiece.

Then it was time for the crucial match that could potentially determine who would get to stay a day longer in the tournament.  Carrying the Korean banner was world #6 Bae Yeon Ju (pictured above) while on the other side of the court Nitchaon Jindapon.  Although the younger Thai is several places lower in world rankings, she managed to take Bae to a thriller 3-game contest earlier this year at the Singapore Open.

History did not seem to matter as Bae completely dominated the first game.  However, Jindapon, who won her first career Grand Prix Gold title just a week before Bae did last autumn, was able to turn her fortune around as she came back in the second game.  Unfortunately for the Thai, Bae kept her focus on the prize and emerged on top giving Korea a sigh of relief with the much-needed second point.

Jung Kyung Eun / Kim Ha Na did not waste any more time and quickly walked away with another point that would seal the deal for Korea’s semi-finals appearance.  The future looks bleak for the Koreans though as they will most likely face China in a semi-final repeat of the last two Uber Cup finals.

Meanwhile Japanese shuttler Minatsu Mitani had to work extra hard to overcome her determined Danish opponent Line Kjaersfeldt (pictured) 21-18, 9-21, 23-21.  The Takahashi siblings then provided the succeeding 2 more points.  Older sister Ayaka Takahashi and her regular partner Misaki Matsutomo (pictured below) completely dominated the tall Danes Pedersen/Ryter Juhl, 21-12, 21-13.

Ayaka’s younger sister Sayaka then took to the court and quickly sealed the final victory against Anna Thea Madsen, taking only 30 minutes to take it away 21-14, 21-17.  Japan awaits the result of Thursday evening’s India vs. Indonesia quarter-final to determine whom they will face in Friday’s semi-final tie.

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