South Korea thrash Sweden, Indonesia battle
( 2001-05-30 10:05 ) (7 )

South Korea thrashed Sweden 5-0 on Tuesday to launch a credible challenge for badminton's Sudirman Cup world mixed team title.

But Indonesia struggled to assert themselves before disposing of England 4-1.

The results mean South Korea and Indonesia join holders China and Denmark in Thursday's semifinals, with England and Sweden forced into a relegation playoff to decide who exits the elite group that contends for the trophy.

There was more bad news for England when Olympic bronze medallist Simon Archer hurt himself and had to be helped to his feet at 5-5 in the first game in the dead rubber mixed doubles match against the Indonesians.

Archer, England's most succssful male player over the last few years, has been plagued by a knee injury which has been scheduled for an operation after next week's world championships. After discussion with the tournament doctor, Archer and partner Gail Emms conceded the match.

China, bidding for a fourth title win in a row, remain overall favourites but, on Tuesday's slick showing, the Koreans can cause plenty of problems. The Swedes were no match and Wun Jae-youn clnched a winning 3-0 lead with a competent 11-4 11-4 win over Marina Andrievskaya.

England got off to a good start against Indonesia when their new women's doubles pairing of Donna Kellogg and Emms survived three match points to beat the couple ranked 20 in the world, Indarti Issolina and Deyana Lomban 8-15 15-10 17-15.

SHUTTLE ABUSE

Kellogg, yellow-carded on Monday for shuttle abuse in a game against Denmark, said "Even at 14-11 down in the decider, we just didn't give in. We never believed we would lose that match."

But after the initial success, Indonesia eventually restored order with the doubles pair of Tony Gunawan and Candra Wijaya making it 3-1 with an impressive 15-5 15-8 victory over Anthony Clark and Nathan Robertson.

The marathon women's doubles affair had lasted 95 minutes, the longest of the tournament to date.

That was exactly 89 minutes more than Elizabeth Nuza from Gibraltar spent on court in her singles match against Mexico's Abigail Garcia in group 7. The six-minute sojourn equalled a world record set by England's Julia Mann five years ago.

Meanwhile, India seem set fair for another hoist up the sporting ladder after their squad, led by Pullela Gopichand, beat Austria 5-0 in morning action.

Following Monday's 4-1 success over Wales, the Indians look capable of clinching promotion into division two, just one step away from the elite group.

Gopichand, out of action since winning the All England title in March, was made to work for his 15-12 15-7 success over Austrian Juergen Koch but he won in the end with a little to spare.

Conditions in the playing hall at the San Pablo complex remained hot and humid as outside Seville continued to undergo a heat wave. Temperatures in the streets hovered around 40 degrees celsius with even the locals moved to remark on the weather.