GLASGOW, MAY 23: China kept a firm grip on the Sudirman Cup team badminton championship with a convincing win over former winners South Korea in the final round of group matches yesterday.But there was no joy for China's traditional rivals Indonesia who were edged out 3-2 by Denmark.

China, led by All-England champion, Dong Jiong, won the opening three rubbers in straight games to dent the Korean hopes of regaining the crown they took in 1991 and 1993.

It was only after the match was over as a contest that the Chinese relaxed their grip, allowing the Koreans to take the two dead rubbers, the men's and mixed doubles, to make the final score 3-2.

Ge Fei and Gu Jun set the Chinese on right course with a 15-4 15-9 win in the women's doubles, and Dong, despite trailing 3-6 in the first game, made it 2-0 with a 15-9 15-6 scoreline against Jang Chun-Wong.

The holders rested All-England champion and world number one Ye Zhaoying in the women's singles, but the petite world number two, Gong Zhichao, proved to be an able replacement. In a tie lasting just nine minutes, she defeated Lee Joo-Hyun 11-5 11-0 to wrap up the Chinese win.

The Indonesia-Denmark game went all the way with the Danes edging home in five-hour marathon after a hard-fought victory in the mixed doubles, Jens Eriksen and Marlene Thomsen triumphing 15-6 15-12.

The Danes now have high hopes of reaching the final for the first time. They meet South Korea in the semifinals while China play Indonesia. The Danish victory was teed up in the opening match by Olympic gold medallist Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen who overcame World champion Heryanto Arbi 17-16 12-15 15-4.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.