China set up Japan showdown in Sudirman Cup final after routing South Korea in semi-finals
- China ease into final where they will meet Japan for a second successive decider
- China is looking for a record 12th Sudirman Cup title
China thrashed South Korea in the semi-finals of the Sudirman Cup on Saturday to set up a grudge final match against Japan as they look for a record 12th title in Finland.
China will meet regional rivals Japan in a repeat of the 2019 Cup final after the Japanese overcame Malaysia 3-1 in the other last-four clash.
It will be the third time China and Japan have contested the final, and China glided into the decider with mixed doubles pair Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping, Shi Yuqi and Chen Yufei settling matters with little complication.
The doubles pair needed just 44 minutes to dispose of South Korea’s untried pairing of Seo Seung-jae and Shin Seung-chan.
The only time South Korea looked likely to get back into the match was during the men’s singles encounter between an out of sorts Shi and Heo Kwang-hee. A series of unforced errors, a hallmark of Shi’s campaign in Finland so far, allowed Heo, the world No 34, to take the opening game 21-17.
The loss prompted Shi to regroup and an improved second game saw the world No 10 level matters after a 21-9 win. He settled the tie with a 21-11 win in the decider.
