Japan Malaysia ease through to Sudirman Cup quarter finals

XIAMEN, China - Japan breezed through to the Sudirman Cup quarter-finals after crushing France 5-0 on Tuesday, while Group C rivals Malaysia also advanced with a 4-1 win over Australia in the biennial mixed team competition.

Japan went ahead through mixed doubles pair Yuichi Shimogami and Sayaka Hobara before Koki Watanabe and womens world number four Akane Yamaguchi won their singles matches to open up an unassailable 3-0 lead.

Searching for their first title after finishing runners-up three times, Japan went on to complete their second straight 5-0 victory thanks to their dominant doubles pairings.

Malaysia, also eyeing a first Sudirman crown, went 4-0 up through their mixed doubles, singles and mens doubles wins before Australian duo Gronya Somerville and Angela Yu got the better of Go Pei Kee and Carmen Ting in the womens doubles.

In the evening session, former champions Indonesia take on India and Denmark face England in Group D. REUTERS

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