Sporting Digest: Badminton

DARREN HALL'S defeat of the world junior champion, Chen Gang, helped England to fight back from 0-2 down against China in the second of the six- match series at Gateshead yesterday. In the women's doubles, Gillian Gowers and Joanne Muggeridge beat Li Qi and Yu Qiao to level the score at 2-2. In the decider, Neil Cotterill and John Quinn came from a game and 4-9 down to lead 10-5 in the third before losing 15-7, 9-15, 15-10 to Chew Wei and Yang Ming.

ENGLAND v CHINA (Gateshead): England 2 China 3. Women's singles: A Humby lost to D Yun 6-11 3-11. Mixed doubles: J Quinn and S Hardakre lost to L Yong and Y Jie 15-18 10-15. Men's singles: D Hall bt C Gang 15-10 15-9.

Women's doubles: G Gowers and J Muggeridge bt L Qi and Y Qaio 15-8 15-13.

Men's doubles: N Cotterill and J Quinn lost to C Wei and Y Ming 7-15 15-9 10-15.