After the close of the dramatic rubber matches, Germany and Japan were filled with excitement come Day 3 of the Sudirman Cup in Kuala Lumpur.
Germany faced home team Malaysia to secure the last spot for the quarterfinals. The first match was the mixed doubles and YONEX players Michael Fuchs (VT80)/Birgit Michels (NR700FX) defeated Chan Peng Soon (ARC11)/Goh Liu Ying (NR700RP, SHB01LTD) with a close, 21-17 18-21 21-17.
Lee Chong Wei (VTZF, SHB01LTD) then tied the match 1-1 by winning the men’s singles match against Dieter Domke (VT70), 21-18 21-18. Malaysia took the men’s doubles and Germany won the women’s singles to tie it up, 2-2. The women’s doubles would become the deciding match. The match was a seesaw battle between Birgit Michels/Johanna Golsizewski (NR800) and Woon Khe Wei (NS9900)/Hoo Vivian Kah Mun (VT70). After the long 1 hour and 4 minute match, Birgit and Johanna finished victorious, 21-16 16-21 21-18. It was Germany’s greatest win and placed them in the quarterfinals of Sudirman Cup for the first time.
The game between Denmark and Japan was an intense match. They played 3 final games, the mixed doubles, men’s singles and men’s doubles. Japan’s head coach, Park Joo Bong, considered the mixed doubles as their weak point, however, YONEX players Hirokatsu Hashimoto (ARC11)/Miyuki Maeda (VT70) tested Christinna Pedersen (NR800)/Joachim Fischer in the first match. Christinna and Joachim gave their team a 1-0 lead, 17-21 21-15 21-18. The close game from Hirokatsu and Miyuki encouraged the Japan team helping give Kenichi Tago (ARC-ZS) his first ever victory against Danish ace Jan O Jorgensen.
Kenichi defeated Jan O in an exciting final match, 13-21 21-19 27-25. World No. 1 men’s doubles YONEX players Mathias Boe (VT80)/Carsten Mogensen (ARC-FB) took the lead for Denmark again 2-1, however Japan came back and tied the match at 2-2 with a win from Sayaka Takahashi (NR700FX). The final match was between world No. 3 Christinna Pedersen (NR800, SHB01-LX)/Kamilla Rytter Juhl (NR800) and world No. 2 Ayaka Takahashi (VT80)/Misaki Matsutomo. Ayaka and Misaki finally brought Japan their first triumph against Denmark in the mixed team event.
Results of Day 3
Group A
China def. Indonesia 5-0
Group B
Korea def. Thailand 5-0
Group C
Germany def, Malaysia 3-2
Group D
Japan def. Denmark 3-2
Schedule of Day 5
Quarterfinals
Germany vs. Korea
Denmark vs. Chinese Taipei
Japan vs. Thailand
China vs. Indonesia