Badminton: South Korea upset China to win Sudirman Cup

South Korea edged past record champions China 3-2 in the final of the Sudirman Cup mixed team badminton championship to clinch their fourth title here on Sunday.

Despite a phenomenal tournament, and a 1-0 lead after the first match with men's doubles pair of Fu Haifeng and Zhang beating Nan Choi Solgyu and Seung Jae Seo 21-14, 21-15, China were unable to continue their winning ways, reports Xinhua news agency.

The South Koreans clawed their way back into the contest, with their women's singles and doubles teams snatching victories. China were aiming to bag their seventh consecutive title and 11th overall in the biennial competition.

World No.4 Sung ji Hyun pulled South Korea level 1-1 with a comfortable 21-12, 21-16 victory over No.7 He Bingjiao.

Veteran singles specialists Lin Dan regained the lead for China as he eased past Jeon Hyeok Jin 21-10, 21-10 in 47 minutes.

South Korea then clinched the women's doubles match as Chang Ye Na and Lee So Hee overcame Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan 21-19, 21-13.

In the deciding mixed doubles match, China's Lu Kai and Huang Yaqiong gave a gallant fight but they were undone by Solgyu and Chae Yoo Jung, who won 21-17, 21-13 to seal the title for the tournament's second most successful team South Korea, who last won the title in 2003.

In 2003, South Korea were the team which had halted China's run of four consecutive titles in 2003 and they did it again.

--IANS

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