Taiwan gear up for badminton clash with Denmark

Taiwan are hoping for a shock win against Denmark while depleted Indonesia take on Japan Friday in the Sudirman Cup quarter-finals as the world mixed team championships approaches its climax. Denmark, one of the major challengers to holders and hosts China, will be hot favourites to defeat Taiwan, who are relying on their women to see them through. "Denmark’s first singles (Peter Gade) is too good for any of our men," admitted Taiwan's team manager Mao Liao-kuo. "That puts us at a disadvantage but I reckon we can win three points from the four remaining matches," he told the Badminton World Federation (BWF). "Our women will play an important role and we need them to be in top form to help us." Indonesia came to the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao without many of their best players, including world number two Taufik Hidayat. But that did not prevent them from reaching the quarter-finals against Japan, who secured their spot in the last eight after hammering Germany before getting thrashed themselves by China. The winners of Friday's two quarter-finals will meet in the semi-finals on Saturday. The other semi is between China and South Korea. The Sudirman Cup final is on Sunday.