(Sports Focus) China powers past Japan to claim 10th Sudirman Cup
Xinhua, May 17, 2015 Adjust font size:
China's strength and depth proved too much for Japan as the defending champions clinched their 10th Sudirman Cup title with the 3-0 final win on Sunday.
The hosts met some challenges in the opening men's doubles but controlled the match throughout to achieve their sixth consecutive victory in this world team badminton championship.
When the iconic Lin Dan sealed the victory with a powerful smash, Chinese players hugged and applauded, arousing thunderous cheers from a packed arena at the Dongguan Sports Center in Guangdong province.
"The competition is fiercer than expected. I fought to the end and I did it, " said Lin Dan, the dual Olympic champion.
The Sudirman Cup, launched in 1989 as one of the most prestigious tournaments in badminton, witnessed China take first their trophy in 1995.
In the past 20 years, only South Korea had won once - in 2003.
On Sunday afternoon, Hiroyuki Endo/Kenichi Hayakawa, the world No.6 men's doubles pair, raised early hopes of an upset after fighting back to win the second set. But the rest of the challenge failed to measure up as China's leading duo Zhang Nan/Fu Haifeng nailed it 21-17, 20-22, 21-17.
In all five disciplines, men's doubles is relatively a weak one for China.
"It's a tough battle. This point is usually the most difficult but we hang on and won it. It's a big boost for us," said Fu Haifeng, who won the 2012 Olympic gold with partner Cai Yun.
Zhang Nan, who had to play in the fifth mixed doubles if China couldn't win 3-0, said he felt honored to be selected for two disciplines.
"My physical condition is good. The first victory is able to make me more relaxed and confident to play the fifth game if necessary," said Zhang Nan.
Li Xuerui, the women's singles champion in the London Olympics, used 42 minutes to beat Akane Yamaguchi 23-21, 21-14, put China 2-0 ahead.
"The first set is very close. In the second, when I played in my rhythm she began to make mistakes," said the world No. 1 Li.
Then it was Lin Dan's turn.
"Super Dan", who has twice completed a "grand slam" of major badminton titles, proved too strong for 25th-ranked Takuma Ueda, winning 21-15, 21-13. Endi