Kuala Lumpur (5/15) - For the first time in history, South Korea will bring home the Uber Cup after embarrassing defending champions China 3-1.
The Chinese girls who played today are in the top spots of the BWF World Ranking, like Wang Yihan (1), Ma Jin/Wang Xiaoli (1), Wang Xin (2), and Du Jing/Yu Yang (2). China had also beaten Korea five times previously in the Uber Cup final and they would do it again, so boasted the Chinese manager Li Yongbo. Despite that fact and remark, the Koreans were not overawed.
Bae Sung-hee boosted her teammates' spirit as well as depressing the opponent's side, conquering 2009 All England winner Wang Yihan in just straight sets 23-21 and 21-11.
In the second match, Lee Hyo-jung and Kim Min-jung extended their country's advantage. After struggling 18-21 in the first set, Lee and Kim were never left behind by Ma Jin and Wang Xiaoli to capture the second and third sets 21-12 and 21-15.
Wang Xin gave her country a moment to breathe by subduing Sung Ji-hyun 21-14, 16-21, and 21-7.
The fourth match was an exciting one. Lee Kyung-won and Ha Jung-eun well knew that they should win if they wanted to win the cup, while Du Jing and Yu Yang had to win also if they desired the cup to stay longer in their country.
Lee and Ha made a late start when they surrendered in the first set 19-21, but took the second 21-14. The third was the decider. Du and Yu saved 2 match points before bowing out 19-21.
The Koreans rushed into the court to celebrate their first ever Uber Cup victory.
"This is a historic day for Korean badminton. We reached the finals five times before and we were beaten in all five by China. But today it was a different story, we were not the second fiddle.
"We've had enough of losing to the Chinese. The players were determined to break the jinx and we did it in Kuala Lumpur," said Korean manager Kim Jong-soo.
Meanwhile, Li Yongbo blamed inexperience for the defeat of his team and covered his disappointment by saying that it would be boring if China kept on winning.
"So it is good to let Korea win the Cup to give badminton some variety," he conceded.
But he also admitted that the Koreans "deserve to lift the Cup. They were the better team."
pictures and quotes from thomasuberkl2010.com
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