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China's Gao Ling, left, and Zhang Jun, right,
hold up the Sudirman Cup in the podium ceremony after China winning
the final match at the 2005 World Mixed Team Badminton Championships
for the Sudirman Cup in Beijing, China, Sunday, May 15, 2005.
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China exorcised their demons from two years ago with a 3-0 win over
Indonesia to lift the prestigious Sudirman Cup for the fifth time in nine
editions of the world mixed team badminton championships.
It was sweet revenge for China after their run of four consecutive
victories was snapped by South Korea in 2003. They now hold all three of
badminton's major team trophies following last year's success at the
Thomas and Uber Cups.
Indonesia, who won the inaugural biennial Sudirman Cup in 1989, were
unable to match the strength and depth of the Chinese shuttlers, who did
not lose a single match throughout the six-day tournament at Beijing's
Capital Gymnasium.
Zhang Jun and Gao Ling opened China's account with a 12-15, 15-5, 15-8
win over Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir in the opening mixed doubles
rubber.
As was the case in Saturday's semi-final against against two-time
winners South Korea, Zhang employed his trademark ferocious smashes to
good effect, punishing any deep returns, while Gao was her usual predatory
self at the net.
The Chinese duo, who won the gold medal at the Athens Olympics last
year, lost the absording first game but bounced back immediately,
capitalising on a number of unforced errors by their opponents to take the
second.
In the deciding game Zhang and Gao squandered two match points but
eventually converted the third with a rare service ace to send the crowd
wild.
The second rubber, the men's singles, produced the match of the
tournament, with China's world number one Lin Dan taking on Taufil
Hidayat, the Athens Olympic gold medallist.
Both showed incredible sleight of hand, dancing around the court in a
series of stunning rallies. The 21-year-old Lin shot off to a 4-0 lead but
after that they matched each other shot for shot.
Lin, however, held his nerve to clinch the first game 17-15, and then
outthought his opponent to take the second game 15-9 and give China their
second point. The left-hander celebrated his win with an exuberant leap
into the crowd.
Zhang Ning, the women's world number two, cemented China's fifth
Sudirman Cup victory with an 11-1, 11-7 demolition of Fransisca Hari.
"I tried to play a more controlled game to try and force Taufik into
being impatient. I think it worked very well," said the left-handed Lin
following his victory over his fierce rival.
"I am delighted to have got the point for the Chinese team," he added.
Given China's seemingly non-stop production line of shuttlers few would
bet against them retaining the title when the Sudirman Cup travels to
Glasgow in 2007.
(Agencies) |