China draws Thailand, Germany in badminton contest

China's Liu Xiaolong (L) with partner Qiu Zihan celebrate after winning the men's doubles match at the finals of the Sudirman Cup World Team Badminton Championships in Kuala Lumpur May 26, 2013. China won the Sudirman Cup 2013. (Photo/Xinhua)

Monday morning's live draw of the 2015 VIVO Sudirman Cup BWF (Badminton World Federation) World Mixed Team Championships has revealed that China will play against Thailand and Germany in the opening round-robin stage of the event.

The draw, in the host city of Dongguan in South China's Guangdong province, also placed Japan against Chinese Taipei and the United States, Denmark against Indonesia and England, and Republic of Korea against India and Malaysia.

The international badminton tournament, due to take place from May 10 to 17, will host a total of 35 teams worldwide.

Russia, Hong Kong, Canada and Spain will vie for honors in Group 2A, while Singapore, the Netherlands, France and Brazil will compete in Group 2B.

Group 3A has Czech Republic, Turkey, South Africa and Austria, while Group 3B has Vietnam, Australia, Italy and Switzerland.

Group 4A has only three teams: Nigeria, the Philippines, and Iceland, while Group 4B has Israel, Sri Lanka, Seychelles and Kazakhstan.

Venugopal Mahalingam, a representative of the BWF, spoke highly of the preparatory work for the forthcoming event.

"I must say China Badminton Association together with the local host has set a very high standard in organizing the Sudirman Cup, especially in the live draw ceremony," he said when he addressed the ceremony.

"They have set a very good example to the rest of the world how important a live draw is. This shows their commitment and seriousness to the sport. They have done a tremendous job and have delivered to BWF expectations."

According to Lu Hanbiao, deputy secretary-general of the Dongguan municipal government and executive secretary-general of the tournament's preparatory committee, all the preparations are on track and the facility for the game will be finished before the test competition begins in April.

"As a major manufacturing hub in China, Dongguan has done much to make the city successful and turn itself into a city of sports," added Yu Lijun, vice-mayor of Dongguan and executive deputy director of the event's preparatory committee.

To that end, she said, the city has sponsored the weightlifting game of the 16th Asian Games, the Yao Foundation Charity Game in the name of the retired Chinese NBA star Yao Ming and China Badminton Super League Tournament among many others in the past few years.

The Sudirman Cup, one of the most prestigious titles for badminton, is held every two years. It is also the only BWF world event for men and women competing together in national teams.

The event made its debut in 1989 and three editions of the event have been held in China, in Beijing, Guangzhou in Guangdong province, and Qingdao in East China's Shandong province.