South Korea yesterday won the Sudirman Cup for the first time in 14 years with an emotional 3-2 victory over 10-time champions China in Australia's Gold Coast.
The South Koreans claimed their fourth cup in the world mixed teams competition with a charged 21-17, 21-13 win by Choi Sol-Gyu and Chae Yoo-Jung in the decisive mixed doubles match.
The victory -- their first in the biennial tournament since Eindhoven in 2003 -- ended China's 14-year grip on the tournament.
South Korea, who also won the Sudirman Cup in 1991 and 1993, fought back from 2-1 down in the final to claim victory.
Upon winning match point the entire South Korean team descended on Choi and Chae and swamped them in celebration, with Chae eventually climbing off the floor in tears.
It was an outstanding performance by Choi and Chae, ranked 14th in the world, against the second-ranked Chinese combination of Lu Kai and Huang Yaqiong.
Rio Olympic champions Fu Haifeng and Zhang Nan gave China a confident start, rolling through the opening men's doubles match 21-14, 21-15 in 42 minutes.
World bronze medallist Sung Ji-Hyun levelled the final when she mastered He Bingjiao in the women's singles 21-12, 21-16 in 49 minutes.
Chen Long, the reigning Olympic champion and former World and All England title-holder, was too strong for Jeon Hyeok-Jin and took 47 minutes to wrap up a 21-10, 21-10 victory to give China a 2-1 lead.
But pair of Chang Ye-Na and Lee So-Hee, ranked third in the world, took the final into a fifth match with a 21-19, 21-13 win over Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan in a 55-minute women's doubles rubber.
Thailand and Japan shared third place.
DUO TO MISS SEA GAMES
Thailand will miss its top male and female players at the SEA Games in Malaysia due to scheduling conflicts.
World No.11 Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk and world No.8 Ratchanok Intanon will play in the BWF World Championships which will take place between Aug 21-27 in Glasgow, Scotland. The SEA Games will be held between Aug 19-31 in Malaysia.
The rest of the national team, led by in-form mixed doubles stars Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai, will compete at the SEA Games.
Thailand hope to win at least two gold medals in Malaysia. bangkok post/afp