Yu and Wang make comeback at China Open

Former women's doubles world No. 1 Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli made a spirited comeback since they were disqualified for match-throwing from the Olympic Games in London, beating compatriots Ma Jin and Tang Jinhua in 21-19, 21-18 on Thursday at the China Open. Despite their three-month absence from competitive badminton, Yu and Wang looked in good shape against Ma and Tang, who won the back-to-back titles at the Denmark Open and France Open, and emerged as the victors convincingly. "Our opponents (Ma and Tang) are really tough. It was really a high-level match," said Yu. "I hope we can play better and better." As the top and third seeds Tian Qing/Zhao Yunlei and Bao Yixin/Zhong Qianxin had withdrawn, Yu and Wang, who had a bye in the first round, now stand a good chance to win the championship in the last of the BWF Premier Superseries events for this year. At the London Games, eight female doubles players including Yu and Wang were disqualified by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for trying to lose deliberately in a bid to secure favorable draw in the knock-out stage. "It was the most unforgettable experience in our life. Such a big setback has made us more mature," said Yu, who then vowed to retire after the London Games but later changed her mind. "Everybody has many different experiences in his or her life, some good, some bad. We all should learn to deal with them," added the Beijing Olympic champions. Yu and Wang should have shown up in last month's Denmark Open but pulled out in the last minute due to injury, which sparked another wave of criticism from some media. "We were prepared to play the Denmark Open, but Wang Xiaoli's foot was injured just prior to the competition, so we had to withdraw. Now, we are back on court. We hope that our fans will give us more support," said Yu. In women's singles, Japan's Minatsu Mitani, winner of the French Open, continued her brilliant campaign by outclassing Thailand's Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-16, 21-10 in the second round. The 21-year-old proved she is the star to watch in badminton world. Another young talent Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand also cruised into the quarter-finals after beating China's Liu Xin 21-19, 21-13. However, the host is still the dominant powerhouse as it occupied half of the top eight. World No. 1 Wang Yihan edged past Japanese Eriko Hirose 21-19, 21-19, while Olympic gold medalist Li Xuerui came back to beat Busanan Ongbumrungpan of Thailand 13-21, 21-13, 21-12. It is the same in men's singles as four Chinese entered the top eight. Top seed Chen Long, seen as the successor of reigning Olympic champion Lin Dan, cruised past teammate Chen Yuekun 21-19, 21-10 to set up a clash with fifth seed Kenichi Tago of Japan, winner over Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand 21-18, 21-10. Second seed Chen Jin, who survived an early-exit scare in the first round, met little resistance from Hu Yun of Hong Kong, China, winning 21-10, 21-17. In men's doubles, Olympic champions Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng came from one set down to beat Malaysia's Peng Soon Chan and Khim Wah Lim 15-21, 21-10 and 21-13.