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China defeat Denmark to win Sudirman Cup

China defeat Denmark to win Sudirman Cup

Write: Shakira [2011-05-30]

China demolished Denmark 3-0 to capture their fourth Sudirman Cup in front of a raucous sell-out home crowd in Qingdao on Sunday.

It is China's second fourth straight win at Sudirman Cup as the powerhouse had achieved it between 1995-2001.

The heavy defeat at a packed house of about 12,500 left Denmark, Europe's best badminton team, contemplating a future without their world number five Peter Gade, who confirmed this would be his last Sudirman Cup.

"I am very proud of my players. We encountered some difficulties at the very beginning of the championship, but we managed to overcome it," said Chinese head coach Li Yongbo, whose team only lost two women's singles' matches en route to champions.

China took an emphatic early lead and never looked back. Their mixed doubles pair of Xu Chen and Ma Jin saw off Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen in comprehensive fashion, 21-14, 21-14.

Then Lin steamrollered Gade in the most exciting match of the final. Lin, widely regarded as the best player ever, was in sparkling form from the start, winning the first game 21-16 and the second 21-11.

China wrapped up yet another Sudirman Cup triumph when the men's duo of Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng came from behind in the first game to put away Carsten Mogensen and Jonas Rasmussen 21-17, 21-13.

Lars Uhre, Denmark's head coach, admitted a first title at the tournament was never really on the cards.

"We got swept away very quickly, we didn't stand a chance," he said.

"China were very strong today. We didn't play to our best level. We are proud of our silver medal, which is unfortunately still our best in the Sudirman Cup."