Japan's Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino play against Indonesia's Praveen Jordan and Melati Daeva Oktavianti during their mixed doubles group play stage badminton match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, on July 26, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino secured top spot in Group C in fine style in the badminton mixed doubles on Monday, easing to a 2-0 win over Melati Daeva Oktavianti and Praveen Jordan of Indonesia at the Tokyo Games.

       Their passage into the quarterfinals already secured, Watanabe and Higashino prevailed 21-13, 21-10 to make it three wins out of three, completing a triumphant day on the courts for the host nation as Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda reached the last eight of the men's doubles.

       "The match was much tougher than the score would suggest and we needed to move well and have our wits about us," said the 24-year-old Watanabe.

       "We have put together a good winning run and hopefully we can keep this spirit up, even if the game plan changes."

       Japan's mixed doubles pair dominated from the outset at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, racing into an 8-0 lead thanks to some strong play at the net from the 24-year-old Higashino.

       The Indonesians never managed to stamp their authority at the net and after completely controlling the front of the court, Higashino sealed victory for the Olympic debutants with a well-placed block shot.

       "We have played today's opponents on a number of occasions. We had a solid game plan prepared and that is what enabled us to get this victory," said Higashino.

       Kamura and Sonoda set the wheels in motion for Japan in an earlier match by beating American brothers Phillip and Ryan Chew 21-11, 21-3 for a second straight win.

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