South Korea strolled into the final of the Sudirman Cup world team championships yesterday, beating Indonesia 3-1 in a surprisingly one-sided semi-final in Guangzhou.
It was a disappointing end to what had looked like a promising tournament for the Indonesians and their small but colorful band of supporters, who had noisily urged on their team throughout the week, banging drums and singing.
The brilliant mixed doubles pair of Lee Yong-dae and Lee Hyo-jung put South Korea on their way in the first rubber of the tie, beating Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir in two fairly comfortable games.
PHOTO: AFP
Sony Dwi Kuncoro brought Indonesia back into the tie in a thrilling match against Park Sung-hwan, before Hwang Hye-youn won the pivotal women’s singles rubber to put South Korea into a 2-1 lead, leaving their doubles players to do the rest.
Jung Jae-sung and Lee Yong-dae duly obliged, winning the men’s doubles at a canter to put South Korea into the final and leave the Indonesian team and their loyal supporters down and out.
The previous day, Mongolia, officially the worst team at the Sudirman Cup, were celebrating a victory of sorts — their first and only win in 24 matches at the world championships.
Until Friday the Mongolians had played 20 matches and lost all 20.
Their 21st match on Friday, against fellow minnows Luxembourg for the wooden spoon, saw the best Mongolian female lose 21-3, 21-3 in the space of 12 minutes.
Then, in their 22nd match, something strange happened — they won.
Enkhbat Olonbayar was the hero of the hour, beating Luxembourg’s Joe Michels 21-11, 21-18 and rousing one of the biggest cheers of the competition so far at the Guangzhou Gymnasium.
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