China Beat South Korea 3-0 To Retain Thomas Cup

From Ainul Huda Mohamed Saaid WUHAN (China), May 28 (Bernama) -- China retained the Thomas Cup in convincing style by beating arch-rival South Korea 3-0 at the Wuhan Sports Complex Gymnasium here Sunday. China also won the Uber Cup in similar fashion yesterday against South Korea who had beaten the Chinese in the previous Uber Cup final. Despite winning the Thomas Cup seven times before, it was the first time China had won it on home soil. World number two and four times world champion Lin Dan gave China a flying start by beating Lee Hyun Il, 21-14, 21-17 in the first men's singles while Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng produced a sizzling display to go 2-0 up after beating Lee Yong Dae/Kim Sa Rang 21-16, 25-23. South Korea, clearly missing Lee Yong Dae's partner Jung Jae Sung in the men's doubles, did not pose any real threat to the Chinese pair currently ranked number one in the world. World number three Chen Long wrapped up the winning point by easily disposing Shon Wan Ho 21-9, 21-13. Denmark and Japan were the losing semifinalists. A jubilant Chinese head coach Li Yongbo later swept aside talk that China may lose its dominance if Lin Dan and doubles pair Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng decided to retire. "There are in their best form currently and nobody has hinted about retiring but any such decision will only surface after the 2012 London Olympics," he told reporters here Sunday. --BERNAMA