CHINA coach Li Yongbo sat in stony silence as the South Korean players celebrated with wild joy after achieving what was thought impossible.
South Korea made badminton history when they ended China's 12-year stranglehold on the Uber Cup with a 3-1 victory in the final yesterday.
The Koreans were expected to buckle under the might of a team who came through to the final having dropped just one game in four ties.
However, the brave Koreans played their hearts out to claim the Cup for the first time ever with victories in the first singles and both the doubles matches.
South Korea had reached the final on five previous occasions but lost all of them to China.
But a huge upset was on the way when Bae Seung-hee, only ranked 16th in the world, kept her cool to edge world No. 1 Wang Yihan 23-21 in the first game. She continued to put pressure on her more illustrious rival into making a series of errors and won the second game 21-11.
The world No. 1 pair of Ma Jin-Wang Xiaoli were expected to restore order for China but they also met their match in Lee Hyo-jung-Kim Min-jung. The Korean girls held on to their nerves to win the thrilling three-game battle 18-21, 21-12, 21-15.
World No. 2 Wang Xin, however, proved too good for South Korea's Sung Ji-hyun and earned a 21-14, 16-21, 21-7 win to put the tie back within China's reach.
But Lee Kyung-won-Ha Jung-eun sealed the winning point to spark off joyous celebrations in the Korean camp. They edged Olympic champions Du Jing-Yu Yang 19-21, 21-14, 21-19.
South Korea have finally brought down China - unbeaten in a team competition since the 1996 Finals when they lost 1-4 to Indonesia in Hong Kong. And Kyung-won-Jung-eun ran around the stadium's arena with their national flag.
A jubilant Seung-hee, who started the ball rolling with her outstanding win over Yihan for the first time after losing two previous clashes, said that there was no pressure on her.
“I just wanted to play and enjoy the game. Maybe that's the reason I won,” said Seung-hee, who has come a long way since losing all her matches in the Uber Cup qualifiers in Thailand in February.
“I did my homework and had analysed her game on video. Yihan also made crucial mistakes and her defence was not so good today.”
Hyo-jung, who partnered Kyung-won to win the 2008 Beijing Olympic silver medal but has since been playing with different partners, said that the Chinese team were thinking too much of winning.
“They struggled up to the end. We had the momentum after we won the second game and everything went smoothly for us,” she said.
China had boldy predicted on the eve of the final that they would retain the title but Korean team manager Kim Jong-soo said that they did not let it affect them.
“We are used to these kind of comments. We have heard them before and we told the players to focus on their game,” he said.
Yongbo, meanwhile, kept a brave front and congratulated the Koreans for their outstanding performances.
“We accept this defeat. Our team is still very young and the players were playing in their first final.
“The pressure got to them and they were not able to handle the occasion,” he said.
“Maybe, it's a good thing as they can learn from this defeat and grow out of it.”
source : Link
South Korea made badminton history when they ended China's 12-year stranglehold on the Uber Cup with a 3-1 victory in the final yesterday.
The Koreans were expected to buckle under the might of a team who came through to the final having dropped just one game in four ties.
However, the brave Koreans played their hearts out to claim the Cup for the first time ever with victories in the first singles and both the doubles matches.
South Korea had reached the final on five previous occasions but lost all of them to China.
But a huge upset was on the way when Bae Seung-hee, only ranked 16th in the world, kept her cool to edge world No. 1 Wang Yihan 23-21 in the first game. She continued to put pressure on her more illustrious rival into making a series of errors and won the second game 21-11.
The world No. 1 pair of Ma Jin-Wang Xiaoli were expected to restore order for China but they also met their match in Lee Hyo-jung-Kim Min-jung. The Korean girls held on to their nerves to win the thrilling three-game battle 18-21, 21-12, 21-15.
World No. 2 Wang Xin, however, proved too good for South Korea's Sung Ji-hyun and earned a 21-14, 16-21, 21-7 win to put the tie back within China's reach.
But Lee Kyung-won-Ha Jung-eun sealed the winning point to spark off joyous celebrations in the Korean camp. They edged Olympic champions Du Jing-Yu Yang 19-21, 21-14, 21-19.
South Korea have finally brought down China - unbeaten in a team competition since the 1996 Finals when they lost 1-4 to Indonesia in Hong Kong. And Kyung-won-Jung-eun ran around the stadium's arena with their national flag.
A jubilant Seung-hee, who started the ball rolling with her outstanding win over Yihan for the first time after losing two previous clashes, said that there was no pressure on her.
“I just wanted to play and enjoy the game. Maybe that's the reason I won,” said Seung-hee, who has come a long way since losing all her matches in the Uber Cup qualifiers in Thailand in February.
“I did my homework and had analysed her game on video. Yihan also made crucial mistakes and her defence was not so good today.”
Hyo-jung, who partnered Kyung-won to win the 2008 Beijing Olympic silver medal but has since been playing with different partners, said that the Chinese team were thinking too much of winning.
“They struggled up to the end. We had the momentum after we won the second game and everything went smoothly for us,” she said.
China had boldy predicted on the eve of the final that they would retain the title but Korean team manager Kim Jong-soo said that they did not let it affect them.
“We are used to these kind of comments. We have heard them before and we told the players to focus on their game,” he said.
Yongbo, meanwhile, kept a brave front and congratulated the Koreans for their outstanding performances.
“We accept this defeat. Our team is still very young and the players were playing in their first final.
“The pressure got to them and they were not able to handle the occasion,” he said.
“Maybe, it's a good thing as they can learn from this defeat and grow out of it.”
source : Link
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