Badminton: Yongbo's boys hold court again to claim their eighth title
News 4:53 PM
CHINA proved they are still the best team in the world when they put up a classy show to lift their eighth Thomas Cup.
And they did it in superb style - beating Indonesia 3-0 in the final at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Spurred on by thousands of Indonesian supporters, the Taufik Hidayat-led team put up some resistance but not enough to stop China from winning it for the fourth time in a row.
And China's national chief coach Li Yongbo described it as a perfect outing.
Worthy champions: China's players and officials celebrate with the Thomas Cup after they outplayed Indonesia in the final at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday “It was perfect ... absolutely perfect. All the shuttlers played the way that they were supposed to. They gave it their all and they even showed their own styles out there,” said a thrilled Yongbo.
The smile was certainly back on Yongbo's face.
A day ago, his women's team were shocked 1-3 by South Korea in the Uber Cup final. It was the first time that China had lost the Uber Cup in 12 years.
“We allowed South Korea to win so that it would not be a boring competition in the Uber Cup. But we were not prepared to do the same in the Thomas Cup. There was no way it was going to be a double disappointment for China,” he said in jest.
You're the man: China's Chen Jin is mobbed by team-mates after he clinched the winning point by defeating Indonesia's Simon Santoso in the second singles of their Thomas Cup final at the Putra Stadium yesterday. Yesterday, there was no dispute as to who was the better player when three-time world champion Lin Dan took on Taufik in the first singles.
Lin Dan showed his mastery once again when he carved out a sensational 21-7, 21-14 win over Taufik to give China a blistering start.
On Friday, he had inflicted similar pain on world No.1 Lee Chong Wei and that led to Malaysia crumbling to a 0-3 defeat.
Old-timer Taufik admitted that he had lost to a better player.
“Lin Dan's technique and speed were better than mine. He was better prepared. I am disappointed I could not win the crucial first point for my country,” he said.
“If Lin Dan continues to play like this, I will not be surprised to see him dominating until the Olympic Games (in London in 2012).”
Lin Dan proudly lifts the trophy after China's 3-0 victory. Indonesia, known for their prowess in the doubles, had a great chance to level the tie when Olympic and world champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan took to the court next. Instead, they were given a rude shock - losing 23-25, 21-16, 12-21 to Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng.
The Chinese had lost to the Indonesians in the previous major tournament at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Said Yongbo: “Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng went through a tough first match. It was not easy to get the better of the tactically savvy Indonesians but, after the initial struggle, our pair did well to come through.
“They are very experienced. They did well to maintain our good tradition in the team event,”
China were expecting an easy win when Chen Jin took on Simon Santoso in the second singles. Santoso was, after all, filling in at second singles because the injured Sony Dwi Kuncoro was not ready to play.
Simon, however, created a moment of panic in the China camp when he came from behind to take the opening game 21-19.
But, halfway into the second game, it was obvious that the fired-up Chen Jin held the upperhand as he charged back to win 21-17, 21-7 to seal the tie.
And it was party time as all the Chinese players rushed out to hug their hero - Chen Jin.
As China celebrated, the huge Indonesian crowd slipped out of the stadium knowing they will have to wait another two years for their team to bring back the Cup they last won in 2002.
And they did it in superb style - beating Indonesia 3-0 in the final at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Spurred on by thousands of Indonesian supporters, the Taufik Hidayat-led team put up some resistance but not enough to stop China from winning it for the fourth time in a row.
And China's national chief coach Li Yongbo described it as a perfect outing.
Worthy champions: China's players and officials celebrate with the Thomas Cup after they outplayed Indonesia in the final at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday The smile was certainly back on Yongbo's face.
A day ago, his women's team were shocked 1-3 by South Korea in the Uber Cup final. It was the first time that China had lost the Uber Cup in 12 years.
“We allowed South Korea to win so that it would not be a boring competition in the Uber Cup. But we were not prepared to do the same in the Thomas Cup. There was no way it was going to be a double disappointment for China,” he said in jest.
You're the man: China's Chen Jin is mobbed by team-mates after he clinched the winning point by defeating Indonesia's Simon Santoso in the second singles of their Thomas Cup final at the Putra Stadium yesterday. Lin Dan showed his mastery once again when he carved out a sensational 21-7, 21-14 win over Taufik to give China a blistering start.
On Friday, he had inflicted similar pain on world No.1 Lee Chong Wei and that led to Malaysia crumbling to a 0-3 defeat.
Old-timer Taufik admitted that he had lost to a better player.
“Lin Dan's technique and speed were better than mine. He was better prepared. I am disappointed I could not win the crucial first point for my country,” he said.
“If Lin Dan continues to play like this, I will not be surprised to see him dominating until the Olympic Games (in London in 2012).”
Lin Dan proudly lifts the trophy after China's 3-0 victory. The Chinese had lost to the Indonesians in the previous major tournament at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Said Yongbo: “Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng went through a tough first match. It was not easy to get the better of the tactically savvy Indonesians but, after the initial struggle, our pair did well to come through.
“They are very experienced. They did well to maintain our good tradition in the team event,”
China were expecting an easy win when Chen Jin took on Simon Santoso in the second singles. Santoso was, after all, filling in at second singles because the injured Sony Dwi Kuncoro was not ready to play.
Simon, however, created a moment of panic in the China camp when he came from behind to take the opening game 21-19.
But, halfway into the second game, it was obvious that the fired-up Chen Jin held the upperhand as he charged back to win 21-17, 21-7 to seal the tie.
And it was party time as all the Chinese players rushed out to hug their hero - Chen Jin.
As China celebrated, the huge Indonesian crowd slipped out of the stadium knowing they will have to wait another two years for their team to bring back the Cup they last won in 2002.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 4:53 PM.
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