China beats RI for fifth Sudirman Cup title<\/p>\n
Agencies
\nBeijing<\/p>\n
China exorcised its demons from two years ago with a 3-0 win
\nover Indonesia on Sunday, taking the Sudirman Cup for the fifth
\ntime in nine editions of the world mixed team badminton
\nchampionships.<\/p>\n
Winning the title in front of a home crowd for the first time
\nmade for sweet revenge for China, who saw its run of four
\nconsecutive victories snapped by South Korea in 2003.<\/p>\n
The victorious team, led by coach Li Bongyo, ascended the
\npodium at the Capital Gymnasium to lift the cup, named after
\nIndonesia's \"father of badminton\" who steered the country to its
\ngreatest triumphs in international arenas from the 1950s to
\n1980s.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, who won the inaugural biennial Sudirman Cup in 1989
\nin Jakarta, was unable to match the awesome strength and depth of
\nthe Chinese shuttlers.<\/p>\n
The latter did not lose a match throughout the six-day
\ntournament and only surrendered four games -- one to Hong Kong in
\nmen's singles, one to Korea in mixed doubles and two to
\nIndonesia, both in mixed doubles, in the group tie and final.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's Sudirman Cup team manager Christian Hadinata said
\nthe task of beating the Chinese at home was made more difficult
\nafter Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir lost a tough opening mixed
\ndoubles to Olympic champions Zhang Jun and Gao Ling 12-15, 15-5,
\n15-8.<\/p>\n
\"It would have been very difficult for our women players to
\nwin after we lost the opening match, one of our strengths,\"
\nChristian told The Jakarta Post by phone from Beijing.<\/p>\n
He credited his players for their \"extraordinary\" performance
\nin reaching the final, including a 3-0 win over Denmark in the
\nsemifinals.<\/p>\n
\"We have to be positive that the team gave their maximum
\nperformance to reach the final. To come this far is prestigious
\nin itself. The players did very well.\"<\/p>\n
The Indonesian team is scheduled to return to Jakarta on
\nMonday night.<\/p>\n
The second contest produced the match of the tournament, with
\nChina's world number one Lin Dan taking on Taufik Hidayat, the
\nAthens Olympic gold medalist.<\/p>\n
Both scampered around the court in a series of stunning
\nrallies. The 21-year-old Lin shot off to a 4-0 lead but after
\nthat they matched each other shot for shot.<\/p>\n
Lin, however, held his nerve to clinch the first game 17-15,
\nand then outthought his opponent to take the second game 15-9.<\/p>\n
\"I tried to play a more controlled game to try and force
\nTaufik into being impatient. I think it worked very well,\" said
\nLin.<\/p>\n
Zhang Ning, the women's world number two, sealed China's
\nvictory with an 11-1, 11-7 demolition of Fransisca Hari, her
\nteam's hero on Saturday in her decisive win over Camilla Sorensen
\nof Denmark.<\/p>\n
China now holds all three of the sport's major team trophies
\nfollowing last year's success at the Thomas Cup men's competition
\nand Uber Cup women's event.<\/p>",
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