Zhang Jun (C), president of the Chinese Badminton Association, celebrates after China beat South Korea 3-0 in the Sudriman Cup final in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, May 21, 2023. /Xinhua news Agency
China swept South Korea 3-0 in the Sudirman Cup final in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, on Sunday night to win their 13th title of the tournament. When asked how the team did it, Zhang Jun, president of the Chinese Badminton Association, said the secret is to never give up.
China came back to win after losing the first match multiple times in the Sudirman Cup this year, which makes Zhang very glad.
"We trailed, then we tied it; we trailed again, we tied it again; our opponents were only a few points away from winning the match, we still tied it and won in the end," Zhang said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency.
Zhang Jun (R2), president of the Chinese Badminton Association, talks to Zheng Siwei (R1) and Huang Yaqiong (L1) of China during the Sudriman Cup final mixed doubles match in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, May 21, 2023. /Xinhua news Agency
Zhang admitted that it was a very difficult tournament for China this time. Before it began, he listed South Korea, Japan and Indonesia as the three toughest opponents for his side, but didn't expect China to play all of them in the knockouts.
"We saw this edition of the Sudirman Cup as a challenge of other top teams against China," Zhang said. "There were a lot of problems and difficulties, especially in the semifinals against Japan and in the quarterfinals against Indonesia. But our players faced those difficulties in a calm and collected way, adjusted their performances and secured the victory in the end."
It's the third consecutive Sudirman Cup title China have won and Zhang believes it was the most difficult. "We weren't under so much pressure in the last edition in Finland. When we won it in Nanning in 2019, we were still a young team trying to challenge the powerhouse of Japan," Zhang told Xinhua.
Zhang Jun (R), president of the Chinese Badminton Association, cheers players of China during the Sudirman Cup semifinals against Japan in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, May 20, 2023. /Xinhua news Agency
The Chinese badminton boss said that the team has grown into a mature group. Shi Yuqi has been playing better in the men's singles matches since he came back from suspension; the team has two competitive pairs for the men's doubles competitions; China also have a deep talent pool for both the women's singles and the women's doubles players.
This year's Sudirman Cup is also the first event to earn Olympic qualification points for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. Zhang is glad to see China begin with victory. He told players after the tournament that success is history once they step down the podium; everyone will need to work hard and perform well in every of the coming matches to go for the top honor in Paris.