China, Indonesia set up Thomas & Uber Cup Finals

China will contest Indonesia in the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup finals on Sunday. Indonesia hold the Thomas Cup record of 14 titles over the Chinese men's 10. The Chinese women's team lead the Uber Cup record with 15 titles, while the Indonesian have won three.

In the semi-finals a day ago, the Chinese men's team beat Malaysia 3-1 and defending champions Indonesia overcame Team Chinese Taipei 3-0. In the Uber Cup, the Chinese women's squad moved past Japan 3-0 to set up the final with Indonesian shuttlers who beat defending champions South Korea 3-2.

Between China and Malaysia, Shi Yuqi opened the lead for China defeating Malaysia's highest-ranked Lee Zii Jia 21-19, 21-5 in just 39 minutes.

"My opponent has been in great form recently, and the first game was so intense. Honestly, I played very carefully in the second game, but I don't know why he made more errors (during the second game)," said Shi.

Malaysian duo Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik then leveled the score beating China's Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang 15-21, 21-12, 21-17. Li Shifeng restored China's lead in the second singles clash with a 21-17, 21-10 win over Leong Jun Hao. He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu then sealed the win for China against Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin 18-21, 21-19 and 21-12.

On the women's side, Chen Yufei put China ahead against Aya Ohori 21-18, 21-15 in straight games, before world No. 1 Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan doubled the lead 2-0 with a comeback victory over Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida 14-21, 21-13 and 23-21.

"They played very well, but we always looked for a way to win. It was just 18-12 down and we won't give up even if we were 20-12 down," said the Chinese pair.

He Bingjiao, who qualified for the Paris Olympics last month at the Asia Championships, sent China into the final with another victory over Nozomi Okuhara 21-8, 21-18.

Meanwhile, Indonesia beat South Korea in all singles matches despite losing the doubles fixtures to return to the final for the first time since 2008.

(Cover: Chinese women's team beat Japan to reach the Uber Cup final in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 4, 2024. /CFP)