Japan men and women post wins in Badminton Asia Championship

Malaysia beat Sri Lanka and Japan defeated Nepal in men's category, while Japan and Chinese Taipai emerged victorious in women's section on the second day of the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2016 here on Tuesday.

The Malaysian shuttlers scored a comprehensive 4-1 win over Sri Lanka and Japan made a clean sweep with a 5-0 victory over Nepal in the men's category at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium here.

 Sri Lanka's Buwenaka Goonathileka, ranked 934, was the only player to post a win in the five-match tie, as he humbled Malaysia's Teck Zhi Soo, ranked 65, 21-14, 21-17.

It was an easy 5-0 win for Japanese shuttlers, who faced no major resistance from their Nepalese rivals in the other clash in the men's section today. Japanese women shuttlers, including top-ranked Sayaka Sato, Yui Hashimoto and Minatsu Mitani, too registered a comfortable win over Singapore in the women's category. Sato, Hashimoto and Mitani are ranked 13th, 16th and 17th, respectively.

In the second tie in women's category between Chinese Taipei and Sri Lanka, the former registered a 4-1 victory. Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa of Sri Lanka, who is ranked a lowly 934, pulled off an upset win over 61-ranked Chia Hsin Lee. Each tie comprises three singles and two doubles matches. In all, 14 men's teams and 12 women's teams are competing in the tournament. The participating teams will play in two stages. Top two teams from each group qualify for the final.

The tournament also serves as Thomas and Uber Cup Asia Continental Qualifying round. In the evening, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia emerged victorious in the men s category, while Korea and Malaysia won in the women s category.