Sudirman Cup: hosts China sweep South Korea to triumph in Suzhou as major sport returns to country after Covid
- Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong overcome early scare in mixed doubles, dropping first set before putting China 1-0 up against Seo Seung-jae and Chae Yu-jung
- Shi Yuqi extends lead in men’s singles, then Chen Yufei beats An Se-young in women’s to deliver the title for the hosts
China achieved a record-extending 13th victory in the Sudirman Cup with a commanding display in the final against South Korea on home soil on Sunday.
It was the first major sporting event held in mainland China since the lifting of the country’s Covid-19 restrictions, under which most major competitions had been cancelled, postponed or moved.
The hosts marked it with a 3-0 triumph in Suzhou, neighbouring Shanghai, to complete a three-peat after they defeated Japan in the 2019 and 2021 editions. China had previously won four in a row from 1995 to 2001, before a run of six from 2005 to 2015.
But the Chinese – who had been taken to the brink of defeat by Japan in a marathon 3-2 semi-final battle on Saturday – had some early scares in Sunday’s final at Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre.
Four-time winners South Korea had seen off Malaysia in the last four and went into the final as the only country to have beaten China in the title match, having done so in Eindhoven in 2003 and Gold Coast in 2017.
And their world No 5 mixed doubles pairing of Seo Seung-jae and Chae Yu-jung proceeded to take the opening set 21-18 against Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong.
