QINGDAO, East China, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Hubei beat Zhejiang to win the last berth of semifinals of women's badminton team event at the China's 11th National Games here on Saturday.
The other berths went to Guangdong, Hunan and Jiangsu.
After two losses in first singles and first doubles matches, Zhejiang was put on the cliff as another loss meant they cannot reach the semis. Then current women's singles world No. 1 Wang Lin defeated Chen Xi of Hubei to earn one point for Zhejiang. However, former world champion Gao Ling and Wei Yili dashed the hopes of Zhejiang by pipping Li Xiao and Shen Xiaobo, helping Hubei to the victory of 3-1.
"As our doubles cannot challenge Hubei, three singles players are under great pressure," Wang explained their loss.
Olympic runner-up Xie Xingfang outplayed Cheng Wen of Hunan 21-15, 21-13, putting Guangdong on the right track for the 3-0 victory.
"I have been taking up systematic training with Guangdong team," the 28-year-old veteran said. "We are working hard to play each match no matter how strong our rival is."
Apart from Xie, Guangdong also has Olympic women's doubles champions Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen. They are eyeing for the team champion to better their second placing in last National Games.
Hosts Shandong notched up their first match by frustrating Fujian 3-2. Liu Jie, serving as Shandong's first singles player, said: "We played a better match than before."
Shanghai, who reserved big names like Wang Yihan and Zhu Lin, lost to Liaoning 3-0. Jiangsu, who has secured a semi berth, gave way to People's Liberation Army 3-0.
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