Last year’s beaten quarter-finalists Thailand, a rising power in junior badminton, believe they have the team to win this year’s Asian Junior badminton mixed team title after steamrolling minnows 5-0 in their opening Group B match on Saturday.
It was an easy win for the Thais at the Jaya Raya Sports Centre in Bintaro, Jakarta in the four-team Group B which also saw the Chinese Taipei fight and nail with Hong China before snatching a 3-2 win with the tie going down the wire and decided the last match – which was decided in the mixed doubles.
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“We have a strong team this year…which, I believe is good enough to reach the final at least,” said Thailand coach Tony Somphopcharoen, a former national champion.
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“Macau may not be a badminton powerhouse but I am still impressed with my players. Getting a feel of court and the environment plays an important in badminton.”
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Thailand will face Hong Kong China later in the day in their second group match while Chinese Taipei will take on Macau China in another Group B match.
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After seeing Hong Kong China give Chinese Taipei a run for their money in the morning the Thai will unleash their top players, including Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the boy’s singles for the match against Hong Kong.
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Last year the Thais lost to South Korea 3-1 in the quarter-finals. The Koreans went on to take the title with a 3-2 win over Indonesia in the final. –Â Badminton Asia
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RESULTS (Morning session)
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GROUP A
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China  5   Myanmar  0
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GROUP B
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Thailand  5  Macau China  0
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Chinese Taipei  3 Hong Kong China  2
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GROUPÂ C
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Korea  5   Sri Lanka  0
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India  5   Kazakhstan  0