Japan edged past Denmark 3-2 in Group D at the 13th Sudirman Cup team badminton championships here on Tuesday in a thrilling encounter which lasted more than five hours.

Matsutomo Misaki/Takahashi Ayaka defeated last year's Malaysia Open champions Christinna Pedersen/Kamilla Rytter Juhl 22-20, 21-16 in the women's doubles to deliver Japan's winning point.

Denmark took the lead first after Joachim Fischer Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen came from behind to beat Hashimoto Hirokatsu/Maeda Miyuki 17-21, 21-15, 21-18 in mixed doubles. Tago Kenichi then tied the score for Japan as he took one hour and 16 minutes to beat Jan Jorgensen.

Carsten Mogensen/Mathias Boe gave Denmark a 2-1 lead as they defeated Endo Hiroyuki/Hayakawa Kenichi 21-12, 16-21 and 21-16 in men's doubles. But Line Kjaersfledt could not handle Takahashi Sayaka and lost the women's singles match 2-0 in just 32 minutes.