JAKARTA, 15 May 2004 — China stayed on course for their first Thomas and Uber Cup double in 14 years yesterday as their men’s team romped into the final with a 3-0 blitz of South Korea.
The women had already qualified for the Uber Cup final with an effortless 3-0 victory over Japan.
World No. 1 Lin Dan came through a tough opening game to beat top Korean Lee Hyun-il 15-11, 15-2 before Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng, the world’s second-ranked doubles pair, triumphed 15-13, 15-11 against Lee Dong-Soo and Kim Dong-Moon.
Tall left-hander Bao Chunlai, the world No. 4, then battered Shon Seung-mo into submission with his trademark heavy smashes and pinpoint drops.
The top seeds, who are all unbeaten here, will face the winner of the hotly anticipated second semifinal, Indonesia against Denmark, for the Thomas Cup tomorrow.
“The battle has just begun but we are ready for anything,” China’s head coach warned.
Elsewhere, South Korea’s coach admitted his women’s team have little chance of dislodging Uber Cup champions China in today’s final and said it was a “miracle” his players had got so far.
The South Koreans won a thrilling semifinal against Denmark late Thursday largely to the heroics of 18-year-old Lee Yun-hwa, who delivered both a singles and deciding doubles victory after being picked at the last minute.
Lee later insisted she had not felt any pressure despite the big occasion. But coach Kim Joong-su did not give his team much chance against the mighty Chinese, hot favorites for a fourth consecutive title He said he was not sure whether the exhausted-looking Lee would have the energy to play twice again after the marathon five-and-a-half-hour semi. “She’s very tired and she might not play twice today because she can’t force herself to play well,” Kim said.
South Korea start as massive underdogs against China, who waltzed through to the final without dropping a game.
In contrast with South Korea’s grueling semi, China were largely untroubled by Japan as the world No. 1 and two singles players Gong Ruina and Zhang Ning, and second-ranked doubles pairing Gao Ling and Huang Sui delivered another clinical victory.
