Japanese shuttlers rule

MANILA, Philippines — Japan waylaid South Korea, 3-0, yesterday to rule the women’s division of the 2020 Badminton Asia Team Championships at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Akane Yamaguchi, who is ranked third by the Badminton World Federation, fended off a furious challenge by World No. 9 An Se Young and eked out a 21-18, 19-21, 23-21 victory in the first singles.

World No. 3 Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota downed World No. 4 Le So Hee and Shin Seung Chan, 21-16, 21-16, in the doubles then Sayaka Takahashi smashed Sung Ji Hyun, 21-16, 21-12, in the second singles to complete the gold-medal romp for the heavily favored Japanese team.

The Japanese claimed a berth to the Thomas & Uber Cup slated May 16 to 24 in Aarhus, Denmark with their championship in the six-day Manila event backed by SMART Communications Inc., the Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation, Leisure and Resorts World Corp., Cignal and TV5.

Japan earlier topped its group, beat Southeast Asian power Indonesia, 3-0, in the quarterfinals Friday, and Malaysia, 3-0, in the semis Saturday.