Think Big. Live Large. Make A Difference.: Thomas Cup & Uber Cup 2008

Monday, May 19, 2008

Thomas Cup & Uber Cup 2008

Once again, China won the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup. That country is really coming up day by day. They're so powerful and winning almost every championship.

China beat South Korea 3-1 on Sunday to win the Thomas Cup men's badminton team title for the third time in a row. World number one Lin Dan put the Chinese on the road to victory with a tight opening singles win against Park Sung-hwan 10-21, 21-18, 21-8.

Lin Dan! Reaction after winning. I like this photo.

However, South Korea's doubles pair of Jung Jae-sung and Lee Yong-dae overcame Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng by 25-23, 21-16. They played really well in that match. Good attack and defense!

Great defense!

Jung Jae-sung and Lee Yong-dae after beating China.

During the third game, Bao Chunlai restored China's advantage by beating Lee Hyun-il 28-26, 21-11.

Lastly, Xie Zhongbo and Guo Zhendong sealed the victory for the Chinese, defeating Lee Jae-jin and Hwang Ji-man 21-12, 19-21, 21-12.

Xie Zhongbo and Guo Zhendong...Glory!

South Korea had made it to the final for the first time in the competition's 60-year history by beating 13-times winners Indonesia 3-0 in the semi-final. That's a new record for them. Just hope they will keep it up.

Besides that, China also won the Uber Cup women's title for the sixth consecutive time on Saturday after beating Indonesia 3-0.

Xie Xingfang set the tone for China with a 21-8, 21-15 win over Maria Kristin in the first singles.

Xie Xingfang...world number one!

China took a 2-0 lead when Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen posted a 21-15, 19-21, 21-16 doubles win over Lilyana Natsir and Marissa Vita.

Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen after winning.

Lu Lan completed the victory with a 21-12, 21-10 win over Adriyanti Firdasari in second singles match. So yeah, badminton has been conquered by China.