Xiamen, China ¨C Japan breezed through to the Sudirman Cup quarterfinals after crushing France 5-0 on Tuesday, while Group C rivals Malaysia also advanced with a 4-1 win over Australia in the biennial mixed team competition.
Japan went ahead through mixed doubles pair Yuichi Shimogami and Sayaka Hobara before Koki Watanabe and women¡¯s world No. 4 Akane Yamaguchi won their singles matches to open up an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Searching for their first title after finishing runners-up three times, Japan went on to complete their second straight 5-0 victory thanks to their dominant doubles pairings.
Malaysia, also eyeing a first Sudirman crown, went 4-0 up through their mixed doubles, singles and men¡¯s doubles wins before Australian duo Gronya Somerville and Angela Yu got the better of Go Pei Kee and Carmen Ting in the women¡¯s doubles.
In the evening session, former champions Indonesia take on India and Denmark face England in Group D.
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