KUALA LUMPUR: China continued their dominance in world badminton when they clinched their 12th Sudirman Cup title on Sunday.
Even in the absence of Olympic champion Chen Long, and world No 4 men's doubles Li Jun Hui-Liu Yu Chen, the China national team were just too good on the day, chalking up a 3-1 win over three-time finallists Japan.
China, playing in their 14th straight final, took the lead at the Energia Areena in Vantaa, Finland through scratch men's doubles pair He Ji Ting-Zhaou Hao Dong, who scored a 21-17, 14-21, 21-16 upset over world No 16 Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi.
Japan, however, levelled the score through women's singles world No 5 Akane Yamaguchi, who produced the second upset of the night when she dispatched reigning Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei 21-19, 21-16.
Defending champions China took the lead once again in the marquee men's singles match through Shi Yu Qi, who upstaged world No 1 Kento Momota in three games 21-13, 8-21, 21-12.
"I have been studying Momota's game here at the Sudirman Cup, and I noticed that he defends more.
"I made use of the advantage and played more on the attack. Unlike playing Viktor Axelsen (Denmark), who controls me more, I controlled Momota today.
"I'm very happy to have contributed a point for my country," said Yu Qi, the current world No 10.
Women's doubles world No 2 Chen Qing Chen-Jia Yi Fan then made sure the trophy stayed with China when they made easy work of Japan's scratch pair Mayu Matsumoto-Misaki Matsutomo with a 21-17, 21-16 win.