KUALA LUMPUR – The Chinese badminton squad has once again proven themselves to be a formidable force to be reckoned with, reclaiming the Thomas Cup championship by defeating Indonesia 3-1 in the final match today.
The match held at the Chengdu High-Tech Zone Sports Centre, China, bolstered by the presence of world legend Lin Dan, started strong as Shi Yuqi secured the first point for the home team by defeating Indonesia’s men’s singles player, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, with a score of 21-17, 21-6.
“During the match, I didn’t shout or celebrate, but I only did it at the very last point, I released it all out.
“Overall, I am very happy and satisfied with my performance today. My opponent (Anthony) is a very fast player, and I need to be very well prepared to match his speed and fight against him,” said Yuqi.
China’s top pair, Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang, put the home team in the driving seat after successfully defeating Rian Ardianto-Fajar Alfian with a score of 21-18, 17-21, 21-17 after battling for 64 minutes.
Indonesia, aiming for their 15th Thomas Cup title, revived their chances when Jonatan Christie easily defeated Li Shifeng with a score of 21-16, 15-21, 21-17.
However, China’s second pair, He Jiting and Ren Xiang Yu, displayed unwavering confidence to seal the victory with a dominant 21-11, 21-15 performance, securing the crucial third point for China.
This triumph marks China’s 11th Thomas Cup championship, cementing their status as one of the most successful nations in the tournament’s history since 1949.
Unfortunately for Indonesia, they have failed to win it for two consecutive editions, as in the previous edition in Bangkok, they suffered a surprising defeat to India with a score of 3-0.
Earlier, the Chinese women’s badminton squad also excelled in winning the Uber Cup after defeating Indonesia with a score of 3-0, marking their 16th championship. – May 5, 2024