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China win Sudirman Cup
China exorcised their demons from two years ago with a 3-0 win over Indonesia to lift the prestigious Sudirman Cup for the fifth time in nine editions of the world mixed team badminton championships.
Indonesia, who won the inaugural biennial Sudirman Cup in 1989, were unable to match the strength and depth of the Chinese shuttlers, who did not lose a single match throughout the six-day tournament at Beijing's Capital Gymnasium. Zhang Jun and Gao Ling opened China's account with a 12-15, 15-5, 15-8 win over Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir in the opening mixed doubles rubber. As was the case in Saturday's semi-final against against two-time winners South Korea, Zhang employed his trademark ferocious smashes to good effect, punishing any deep returns, while Gao was her usual predatory self at the net. The Chinese duo, who won the gold medal at the Athens Olympics last year, lost the absording first game but bounced back immediately, capitalising on a number of unforced errors by their opponents to take the second. In the deciding game Zhang and Gao squandered two match points but eventually converted the third with a rare service ace to send the crowd wild. The second rubber, the men's singles, produced the match of the tournament, with China's world number one Lin Dan taking on Taufil Hidayat, the Athens Olympic gold medallist. Both showed incredible sleight of hand, dancing around the court in a series of stunning rallies. The 21-year-old Lin shot off to a 4-0 lead but after that they matched each other shot for shot. Lin, however, held his nerve to clinch the first game 17-15, and then outthought his opponent to take the second game 15-9 and give China their second point. The left-hander celebrated his win with an exuberant leap into the crowd. Zhang Ning, the women's world number two, cemented China's fifth Sudirman Cup victory with an 11-1, 11-7 demolition of Fransisca Hari. "I tried to play a more controlled game to try and force Taufik into being impatient. I think it worked very well," said the left-handed Lin following his victory over his fierce rival. "I am delighted to have got the point for the Chinese team," he added. Given China's seemingly non-stop production line of shuttlers few would bet against them retaining the title when the Sudirman Cup travels to Glasgow in 2007.
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