JAKARTA, 16 May 2004 — China’s formidable women’s badminton line-up overcame stubborn resistance from South Korea to claim their fourth successive Uber Cup title 3-1 yesterday.
The Chinese, all ranked in the top three, dropped their first point of the tournament with Lee Hyo-jung and Hwang Yu-mi surprising No. 1 doubles pairing Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen 15-7, 15-10.
Top-ranked singles player Gong Ruina had earlier battled back from a game and four points down in the second to beat Asian champion Jun Jae-youn, sinking to her knees with relief as she completed the 7-11, 11-5, 11-7 victory. Zhang Ning soon restored China’s lead, coming through a tough second game to beat Seo Yoon-hee 11-1, 13-10.
Gao Ling and Huang Sui then wrapped up the country’s ninth Uber Cup with semifinals heroine Lee Yun-hwa and Lee Kyung-Won unable to stop them running out 15-6, 15-2 winners in a largely empty Senayan Indoor Stadium.
Delighted head coach Li Yongbo said he was pleased with his players despite a below-par performance.
His opposite number Kim Joong-su said the turning-point of the match was in the first singles, when Jun Jae-youn was a game and 4-0 up against Gong Ruina but pushed an easy winner into the net. China are now on course for a famous Thomas and Uber Cup double with their men’s team playing Denmark for the Thomas Cup trophy today.
China will again start as favorites but Denmark’s coach Steed Pedersen said the Danes’ emotional semifinal victory over hosts Indonesia had given them a psychological boost. Denmark’s hopes are likely to rely greatly on the performance of Peter Gade, the former world number one who will face his nemesis, current top player Lin Dan, in the first singles match-up.
Gade, who has spoken of his desire to overhaul Lin after four successive losses, was disappointing in the semifinal, crashing to a 15-4, 15-8 loss to Sony Dwi Kuncoro.
Like their women’s team, China’s vaunted line-up strolled to the final without dropping a game including a 3-0 demolition of South Korea in the semis.
Head coach Li Yongbo said the top seeds were “desperate” to reclaim the title, which has eluded them for 14 years.
