HONG KONG. Apr 3: Taiwan came out of the shadow of their powerful Aslan neighbours Friday to reach

the semifinals of the Aslan Badminton Championships here for the first time, reports AFP

A highly-charged 4-1 victory over Thailand in their last preliminary Group B encounter in the 30.000 US dollars tournament saw Taiwan achieve their best International team result.

“It is our best performance on the International stage. It has take a long time in coming," said a delighted Taiwan manager Huang Ren-Ji Jie.

Taiwan will meet badminton powerhouse China in their semifinal today.

Hot favourites Indonesia will take on Malaysia in the other semi.

As In the preliminary rounds, the semifinals will be played on a Thomas Cup format with three singles and two doubles matches.

So long overshadowed by their more powerful Chinese cousins. Taiwan finally entered the limelight mainly thanks to a magnificent win over South Korea on the opening day, Wednesday.

Their doubles combination Gou Hsin-Ming with Yang Shtn-Jeng. and Horng Shln-Jeng with Huang Chuan-Chen — propelled them to a narrow 3-2 win over the Koreans, and proved invaluable again against Thailand. Friday.

After Taiwanese number one Lee Mou-Chou had conceded the first singles to Thai Sompol Kukasemkij, 15-7. 5-15. 3-15, doubles pair Gou and Yang levelled the score by

beating Pramote Thlrawlwatana and Sakrapee Thongsari 15-9,15-13.

Taiwan's number two singles player. Un Wel-Chcn then defeated Teeranun Chinagta 17-14, 15-12 tn a nail-bitting match to give hts country a 2-1 lead

Taiwan's second doubles pairing. Horng and Huang clinched the tie, and a semifinal berth, by defeating Sompol and Kasemak Chatuchlnda 15-7, 15-5.

“We were confident of entering the semi finals especially after the way we had

played against South Korea earlier 1n the tournament,"

said Taiwan manager Huang

Indonesia, who took preliminary Group B without losing a match, dominated the Korean as they came a step closer to an expected final showdown against arch-rivals China

With their top three singles players. Heryanto Arbi. Allan Budi Kusuma and Ardy Wfranata tn perfect touch, the Indonesians have so far faced few obstacles in the tournament.

World number two Arbi, currently the hottest player on the circuit, hammered Park Sungg Woo 15-7, 15-6, while Kusuma defeated Lc Yong Suh 15-8, 15-6.

Wfranata did not let up the pressure, although the match had already been decided by Indonesia's doubles pairs by the time he set about hts 15-7, 15-3 win over Ha Tae Kwon.

Indonesia's semifinal opponents, Malaysia, were beaten 5-0 by China in the final Group A game

Although resting their top singles player, Foo Kok Keong and doubles specialists Soo Bcng Klang, the Malaysians new generation of badminton players did not let China have it all their own way.

Up-and-coming teenager Yong Hock Kign and Ong Ewe Hock were the pick of he Malaysian team as they went down fighting In the singles to Chinese world No. 9 Wu Wenkai, and Wan Zhengwen respectively.

India meanwhile, will meet Singapore in the Division two fnal, today.

India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 5-0 in the semi-finals while Singapore booked their berth with an equally convincing 5-0 win over Shri Lanka.