Chinese Juggernaut Rolls On

The set is complete. China now hold the Sudirman Cup, the Uber Cup and the Thomas Cup concurrently for the first time since 2012.

The cast followed the script to near-perfection. Following their women who had dealt Indonesia a 3-0 whitewash in the morning, China’s men delivered the coup-de-grace in the final session, the only blip being the second men’s singles, where Jonatan Christie threatened to inspire an Indonesian revival.

The revival didn’t materialise, for He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu never allowed Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana a glimmer. The Chinese had all bases covered, and Fikri and Maulana fell behind at the start and never recovered.

He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu’s winning moment for China

How well the evening began for China! Shi Yu Qi it was once again, leading from the front, and he did to Anthony Sinisuka Ginting what he had to Lee Zii Jia in the semifinals. Ginting had his moments in the opening game, but once his best shots kept coming back from an opponent who second-guessed him at every twist and turn, the Indonesian seemed to hit a wall. Everything went downhill in the second as he slipped to 1-15, the hammering in the second game mirroring what had happened to Lee Zii Jia a day ago.

China’s meticulousness at handling every possible situation was once again evident in the first men’s doubles, which was a 50-50 contest for the most part. And yet, despite Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto edging ahead, their opponents Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang somehow found a way to overtake them. It was another example of China’s ability to come back from crises.

“There was huge pressure on us,” said Wang Chang. “We had lost yesterday and our opponents were playing very well. It’s our first Thomas Cup final and we were able to get a victory, this experience is unforgettable and this feeling will stay with us for a long time.”

On the opposite site, only Jonatan Christie showed the tenacity and composure to withhold the Chinese advance. Having nearly lost a sizeable lead in the third game against Li Shi Feng, Christie refused to buckle. He had handed the baton to Fikri and Maulana, but Fikri and Maulana never made it to the home stretch.