China retains Sudirman Cup
Source: Xinhua |
May 30, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Chinese shuttlers won the mixed-team Sudirman Cup for the fourth straight time by cruising past Denmark 3-0 in the final in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, yesterday.
It was China's second fourth-straight triumph at the biennial championship, replicating its 1995-2001 run.
The badminton powerhouse has lost only one of the last nine competitions, in 2003.
"I am very proud of my players. We encountered some difficulties at the very beginning of the championship, but we managed to overcome it," said Chinese head coach Li Yongbo, whose team only lost two women's singles matches en route to the championship.
Denmark qualified for only its second-ever Sudirman Cup final. In their first final in 1999, too, the Danes were felled by the Chinese, the scoreline being 3-1.
Xu Chen and Ma Jin met little challenge from their opponents Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen in the opening mixed doubles encounter, putting the host ahead with a 21-14, 21-14 victory.
The Chinese duo, only paired three months ago, was also instrumental in China's 3-1 victory over South Korea in Saturday's semifinal as they saved four match points in the decider to defeat Ko Sung-hyun and Ha Jung-eun 21-23, 21-14, 24-22.
"Yesterday's (Saturday's) match gave us lots of confidence and we were comparatively relaxed today after that tough encounter," Xu said.
Olympic and three-time world champion Lin Dan dominated the men's singles by beating veteran Peter Gade 21-16, 21-11.
Twelve years ago, Gade was a fresh-faced 22-year-old when he suffered a 13-15, 13-15 loss to Sun Jun as China cruised to victory. This time, the 34-year-old lost again, but gained respect, both from his opponent and the crowd.
"I want to be like Gade," said the grand-slam winner Lin. "He is already 34 years old, but I still had to give my everything to beat him."
Gade has said he would retire after the 2012 London Olympic Games, which means this was his last Sudirman Cup.
The Dane was satisfied with his performance at the tournament, having outclassed all his opponents except Lin.
"I really enjoyed this week, the spectators were great and it was a great competition," said the veteran.
Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng secured the title for China, brushing aside Carsten Mogensen and Jonas Rasmussen 21-17, 21-13.
In the second game, the scoreline went point for point amid thunderous cheers and applause from spectators at Qingdao Stadium before Rasmussen's return hit into the net to end the match.
The event, inaugurated in 1989, is named after Dick Sudirman, a former player and founder of the Badminton Association of Indonesia.
It was China's second fourth-straight triumph at the biennial championship, replicating its 1995-2001 run.
The badminton powerhouse has lost only one of the last nine competitions, in 2003.
"I am very proud of my players. We encountered some difficulties at the very beginning of the championship, but we managed to overcome it," said Chinese head coach Li Yongbo, whose team only lost two women's singles matches en route to the championship.
Denmark qualified for only its second-ever Sudirman Cup final. In their first final in 1999, too, the Danes were felled by the Chinese, the scoreline being 3-1.
Xu Chen and Ma Jin met little challenge from their opponents Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen in the opening mixed doubles encounter, putting the host ahead with a 21-14, 21-14 victory.
The Chinese duo, only paired three months ago, was also instrumental in China's 3-1 victory over South Korea in Saturday's semifinal as they saved four match points in the decider to defeat Ko Sung-hyun and Ha Jung-eun 21-23, 21-14, 24-22.
"Yesterday's (Saturday's) match gave us lots of confidence and we were comparatively relaxed today after that tough encounter," Xu said.
Olympic and three-time world champion Lin Dan dominated the men's singles by beating veteran Peter Gade 21-16, 21-11.
Twelve years ago, Gade was a fresh-faced 22-year-old when he suffered a 13-15, 13-15 loss to Sun Jun as China cruised to victory. This time, the 34-year-old lost again, but gained respect, both from his opponent and the crowd.
"I want to be like Gade," said the grand-slam winner Lin. "He is already 34 years old, but I still had to give my everything to beat him."
Gade has said he would retire after the 2012 London Olympic Games, which means this was his last Sudirman Cup.
The Dane was satisfied with his performance at the tournament, having outclassed all his opponents except Lin.
"I really enjoyed this week, the spectators were great and it was a great competition," said the veteran.
Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng secured the title for China, brushing aside Carsten Mogensen and Jonas Rasmussen 21-17, 21-13.
In the second game, the scoreline went point for point amid thunderous cheers and applause from spectators at Qingdao Stadium before Rasmussen's return hit into the net to end the match.
The event, inaugurated in 1989, is named after Dick Sudirman, a former player and founder of the Badminton Association of Indonesia.
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