China fulfilled pre-tournament predictions in retaining the Sudirman Cup world team championships on Sunday, crushing South Korea in the final in front of an ecstatic home crowd.
The outstanding side for the whole week, the all-powerful Chinese won the tie 3-0, taking the title for a seventh time and in doing so completed the competition without losing a single match.
There will inevitably be debate about whether China’s domination of badminton is good for the sport, not that anyone cared in the packed Guangzhou Gymnasium amid roars of approval from a patriotic audience.
“We’ve got an excellent team,” said Li Yongbo, China’s head coach. “They worked very hard and I’m proud of them, and I think they fulfilled their potential and maintained the dignity of China by successfully retaining the cup.”
If the South Koreans were to pull off a shock victory, they needed their talented mixed pair of Lee Yong-dae and Lee Hyo-jung, the Beijing Olympic gold medalists, to win the opening rubber.
There was the merest whiff of an upset as they took the first game against Zheng Bo and Yu Yang, but the Chinese pair — propelled along by the vociferous home support — came back, winning the next two games to put China 1-0 ahead.
The crowd’s darling, Lin Dan, was next up for the Chinese. The Beijing Olympic gold medalist and sporting idol dispatched Park Sung-hwan 21-14, 21-18.
Park has only recently returned from national service in South Korea, his coach said, and he might reflect in hindsight that was more enjoyable than facing an on-song Lin playing in his home nation.
“I like playing in my own country,” Lin, who beat world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia on Saturday, said afterwards. “I played very well but sometimes I hurried too much to win the match.”
China secured the tie — and the trophy — after Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng squeezed through the men’s doubles, beating Jung Jae-sung and Lee Yong-dae 21-14, 17-21, 21-19.
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