FINAL UPSET HANDS AUSSIES A BOOST
KOREA’S Sudirman Cup win may have unwittingly delivered Australia’s buoyant squad another dose of good news ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The 27-team badminton tournament wrapped up in thrilling style last night when the pair of Choi Solgyu and Chae Yoo Jung outlasted China’s Lu Kai and Huang Yaqiong at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre.
The mixed doubles success handed Korea a dramatic 3-2 victory in the final of the world team championships, the event providing an early glimpse of what is to come at the Commonwealth Games next year.
While Australia was left satisfied after a 3-2 triumph over Canada on Friday to clinch 15th overall, the upset by world No.3 Korea over No.1 China also proved a valuable lesson.
Australian coach Lasse Bungaard stated repeatedly during the tournament that he wanted his squad to at least match the world’s best nations in patches to prove they are beatable.
It’s a comment that holds greater value now there is tangible proof that China, long considered the frontrunner in such tournaments, does not have a stranglehold on world badminton.
Korea had beaten Thailand 3-1 in Saturday’s semifinal, while China progressed thanks to a 3-2 triumph over Japan.