People’s Republic of China have won a third consecutive BWF Sudirman Cup.
The host nation picked up their 13th title in the mixed team badminton World Championship, defeating Republic of Korea 3-0 in the final in Suzhou on Sunday (21 May).
Reigning women’s singles Olympic champion Chen Yufei secured the title for the reigning champions, with a 21-16, 22-20 win over Korean star An Se Young in the women’s singles.
After a tight start, Chen won nine points out of 10 to take a 13-5 lead.
The tension increased in the home crowd as the world number two closed the gap to 18-16, but Chen reeled off the next three points to take the opening game.
In the second, the Tokyo 2020 gold medallist again upped the pace going into the interval as she won four consecutive points to lead 11-9.
An quickly drew level, but Chen showed some incredible reflexes at the net to bring up three championship points.
There were groans as An saved all three, but Chen brought up a fourth and the Korean sent the shuttle long to spark wild celebrations as the Chinese team rushed onto the court.
Earlier, Olympic mixed doubles silver medallists Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong – restored to the team having been dropped for the semi-finals – saved a match point in the second game before beating Republic of Korea’s Seo Seung Jae and Chae Yu Jung 18-21, 22-20, 21-8.
World number 10 Shi Yuqi had an easier time of it in the men’s singles, defeating Lee Yung Gyu 21-13, 21-17 to take China to the brink of victory having come perilously close to falling to Japan on Saturday.
This was South Korea’s first final appearance since they stunned China in the 2017 final on Australia’s Gold Coast.
You can watch replays of all the action from the final of the 2023 Sudirman Cup on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com (territorial restrictions apply).