China claims seventh Sudirman Cup title

China have won the Sudirman Cup world mixed team badminton championships for a third time in a row in Guangzhou after beating South Korea 3-0 in the final. That win means China have won the Cup for a total of 7 times out of eleven.

China's Lin Dan competes with Park Sung Hwan of  South Korea during the men's singles match of the  final at the 2009 Sudirman Cup World Team Badminton  Championships in Guangzhou, capital of south China's  Guangdong Province, on May 17, 2009. Lin won the  match 2-0. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

The powerful Chinese team entered the final without losing a match in their four previous outings. First up were the mixed doubles.  South Korea fielded Beijing Olympic gold medallists Lee Yong-Dae and Lee Hyo-Jung hoping to win the opening rubber. But the newly-formed Chinese pair of Zheng Bo and Yu Yang played well and came back from one game down to win 18-21, 21-19 and 21-16, putting China 1-0 ahead.

In the following men's singles, Olympic champion Lin Dan continued his good form through the week long tournament. He extended China's advantage to 2-0 by dispatching Park Sung-Hwan 21-14, 21-18.

The men's doubles match proved to be the toughest for China. Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng had no problem in the first game, easily taking it 21-14 against Jung Jae-Sung and Lee Yong-Dae. Since Lee had just completed his mixed doubles match earlier, the South Koreans were expected not to present much resistance. But they took a hard fought 2nd game 21-17 to bring back some hope of gaining a point.

The two pairs traded shots in the decider and it was tied 5 times before the Chinese finally prevailed 21-19. That ensured China a third consecutive Sudirman Cup, winning it with a perfect record.