Monday, May 20, 2002
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Badminton
The Malaysians had come into the match with high hopes of an upset but could not deny the mighty Indonesians, losing out 3-2 despite setting a 1-2 lead. In the end it was heartbreak for the challengers at the hands of the champion who had monopolised the prestigious trophy — the men's world team championship — since 1994. World champion Hendrawan was the hero as he outgunned Malaysian veteran Hashim M. Roslin 8-7, 7-2, 7-1 in the final match to clinch the Indonesians' 13th Thomas Cup win and spark wild celebrations. The opening game of the final had seen a fired-up Malaysian world number five Wong Choong Hann blaze past Indonesian number one Marleve Mainaky 7-5, 7-5, 7-1 in 45 explosive minutes. Attention then turned to a highly anticipated clash between the two best doubles pairings in the elite eight-team event. However, it proved to be no contest with the 1997 Indonesian world champions Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto putting on an awesome display to demolish the world number one duo of Chan Chong Ming and Chew Choon Eng 7-3, 7-4, 7-2 in a lopsided contest that lasted just 15 minutes. Indonesian idol Taufik Hidayat swept the first game in vintage style before finally going down 7-1, 5-7, 2-7, 7-2, 3-7 to world number 12 Lee Tsuen Seng. However, Halim Haryanto and Tri Kush Aryanto defeated Lee Wan Wah and Choong Tan Fook 7-8, 8-7, 7-1, 7-3 to level the match and set up the dramatic finale. Indonesia's five Thomas Cups in a row breaks its previous best of four consecutive victories between 1970-79, when the cup was contested every three years.
China takes Uber Cup
Holding off a strong challenge from South Korea, defending champion China cruised to a 3-1 victory on Saturday in the final of the Uber Cup for the eighth time. The Chinese women held on thanks to the precision play and toughness that have led to their domination of the sport in recent years. South Korea's Kim Kyeung Ran opened the final with a stunner, beating World No. 2 Zhou Mi in five games. The World No. 24 held off Zhou's powerful smash to take the match 7-4, 7-3, 3-7, 3-7, 7-5. The rest of the evening went China's way, although the going wasn't always easy. Doubles pair Gao Ling and Huang Sui needed five games to prevail over South Korea's Ra Kyung Min and Lee Kyung Won in a seesaw match that lasted just over an hour. The final score of 4-7, 7-2, 1-7, 7-5, 7-1 was almost the mirror image of the score the last time the two pairs met at the Japan Open in March, when the Koreans carried the day. Gong Ruina then showed why she is ranked number four in the world, outclassing unranked Kwon Hee Sook 7-3, 7-4, 5-7, 7-3. Yang Wei and Huang Nanyan, the World No. 3 pair, then rolled past 57th ranked Lee Hyo Jung and Hwang Yu Mi, 7-0, 7-2, 7-3. China has won all but two of the Uber Cup championships held since 1984. It was South Korea's fourth appearance in the Uber Cup final. China's coach Li Yongbo said Zhou's loss had been unexpected and threatened to throw his team off their pace. The results final): Thomas Cup: Indonesia bt Malaysia 3-2 (Hendrawan bt Hashim M. Roslin 8-7, 7-2, 7-1; Candra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto bt Chan Chong Ming/Chew Choon Eng 7-3, 7-4, 7-2; Marleve Mainaky lost to Wong Choong Hann 7-5, 7-5, 7-1; Taufik Hidayat lost to Lee Tsuen Seng 7-1, 5-7, 2-7, 7-2, 3-7; Halim Haryanto/Tri Kush Aryanto bt Lee Wan Wah/Choong Tan Fook 7-8, 8-7, 7-1, 7-3 Uber Cup: China bt South Korea 3-1 (Zhou Mi lost to Kim Kyeung Ran 7-4, 7-3, 3-7, 3-7, 7-5; Gao Ling/Huang Sui bt Ra Kyung Min/Lee Kyung Won 4-7, 7-2, 1-7, 7-5, 7-1; Gong Ruina bt Kwon Hee Sook 7-3, 7-4, 5-7, 7-3; Yang Wei/Huang Nanyan bt Lee Hyo Jung/Hwang Yu Mi 7-0, 7-2, 7-3.
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