China has won its 13th Sudirman Cup title, becoming the tournament’s most successful team ever after defeating South Korea 3-0 on home soil. This major sporting event marked the country’s first major competition since the lifting of pandemic restrictions.
The crowd in Suzhou cheered loudly, waving red and white thundersticks and playing loud horns, as China made quick work of the Korean team. The victory was secured by Chen Yufei, who beat world number two An Se Young 21-16, 22-20 in the women’s singles.
The stakes were high for this year’s tournament, as performances would count towards qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics. China faced a challenging semifinal against Japan but prevailed in the end, while South Korea beat Malaysia to make it to the final.
In the opening match of the mixed doubles, Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong lost the first game but bounced back to win the next two, triumphing 18-21, 22-20, 21-8. In the men’s singles, Shi Yuqi outmatched Lee Yun Gyu, using his powerful smashes and laser focus to secure a comfortable victory.
The showdown between Chen and An was the highlight of the event, with long rallies and increasing frustration from the runner-up. A crowd-pleasing moment occurred when a jubilant Zheng threw his shirt into the crowd while Huang threw her racket to a spectator. The entire Chinese team rushed onto the court to join in the celebrations after securing the win.
International sports events ground to a halt in China after the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic in late 2019, barring last year’s Beijing Winter Olympics, which were held in a virus-secure bubble. The Sudirman Cup marked a significant step towards a return to normalcy for the country’s sporting events.