SUZHOU – China claimed a record-extending Sudirman Cup title on Sunday, defeating South Korea 3-0 on home soil at the first major sporting event in the country since the lifting of pandemic restrictions.
The Chinese are the most successful team in the tournament’s history – they have won 13 times in the past 18 editions and have never missed the final since 1993.
It was the sixth time both countries have met in the final. China now lead 4-2 and avenged their last meeting in 2017 when the Koreans prevailed 3-2 in Gold Coast, Australia.
Cheered on by a raucous crowd brandishing red and white thundersticks and loud horns in the eastern city of Suzhou, Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong beat Seo Seung-jae and Chae Yu-jung 18-21, 22-20, 21-8 to give the Chinese a 1-0 lead in the opening mixed doubles match.
Shi Yuqi then doubled that advantage, beating Lee Yun-gyu 21-13, 21-17 in the men’s singles before compatriot Chen Yufei sealed the victory, taking down An Se-young 21-16, 22-20 in the women’s singles.
The victory prompted the home fans in the packed stadium to erupt in cheers and the entire Chinese team to rush onto the court to dance in a circle.
“I think because of our firm belief and the aura we exuded, our opponents were a little bit scared, and they obviously made mistakes, which I think is probably not a coincidence,” Zheng told Xinhua.
“We are very united and we also have a good mentality on key points. So I think these are the strengths of the Chinese team,” Shi added.
The tournament is one of badminton’s most important, and the stakes are higher than usual in 2023 because performances will count towards qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
China had come through a tricky semi-final against Japan on Saturday, with the men’s doubles pair of Liu Yuchen and Ou Xuanyi saving four match points before finally prevailing.
South Korea beat Malaysia 3-1 on Saturday on their way to the final.
Zheng and Huang lost the opening game of the mixed doubles, but pulled it back in a tense point-for-point second game to triumph eventually.
A jubilant Zheng jumped up and down in excitement, ripped off his shirt and threw it into the crowd, while Huang threw her racket to a delighted spectator.
In the men’s singles, Lee was easily outmatched by Shi, unable to deal with his Chinese opponent’s powerful smashes and laser focus.
The long rallies between Chen and An, who looked increasingly frustrated as the match wore on, drew gasps from the crowd. But it was not long before they all turned into cheers.
Virtually all international sports events ground to a halt in China after the coronavirus pandemic emerged there in late 2019, with a notable exception being the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 that were held in a virus-secure “bubble”.
The 2025 Sudirman Cup will continue to be in China, with the host city yet to be determined.
AFP, XINHUA