Thomas & Uber Cup 2024: Indonesia to face hosts China in both men's and women's finals
Indonesia and People's Republic of China came through both sets of semi-finals at the 2024 BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals in Chengdu on Saturday (4 May) live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app for mobile devices (territorial restrictions apply).
It will be the first time the same nations have contested the men's and women's finals at badminton's world team championships since 2012 when China whitewashed Republic of Korea in both matches on home soil in Wuhan. That was also the last time China claimed both titles.
Having secured a first ever Thomas Cup medal with a surprise win over Denmark on Friday, Chinese Taipei were unable to repeat those heroics as Indonesia's men won 3-0.
Anthony Ginting was just too quick for Chou Tien Chen in the opening rubber. After taking the first game 21-18, Ginting trailed 9-4 in the second before winning six of the next seven points to draw level.
At 16-16, Ginting won two consecutive points thanks to smashes hitting the net and dropping down on his opponent's side. Chou managed to level at 19-19, but two devastating smashes from Ginting sealed the win.
Olympic champions Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin gave Chinese Taipei hope when they took the first game against Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto. But the Indonesian pair came back to win a tight encounter 21-18 in the third.
That gave Jonatan Christie the chance to seal the tie, and he did so without too much fuss against Wang Tzu Wei. The recent Badminton Asia champion took just seven minutes to reach the mid-game interval 11-3 in front before closing out the first game 21-11.
Wang was more competitive in the second, coming back to level from 14-11 down. But the world number three quickly raised his game again to take it 21-16 and send Indonesia through to a 22nd Thomas Cup final.
China's men seek to avenge 2020 final defeat
Shi Yuqi set China on their way against Malaysia by beating Lee Zii Jia in straight games. Shi won a tight opener 21-19 before winning the first six points of the second as Lee struggled badly with the drift. The world number two was inspired as he went 11-1 up at the mid-game interval before closing it out 21-5 to take his record to 13 wins from 14 Thomas Cup rubbers.
Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik put Malaysia on the board as they came from a game down to defeat world number ones Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang. The 2022 world champions were inspired in defence at times, but could not stop the recent Badminton Asia champions from easing to the first game 21-15.
Chia and Soh were better able to blunt the Chinese attacking power in the second, taking it 21-12, and went 10-5 up in the decider. Liang and Wang won the next six points without reply to go into the changeover in front, but it was nip and tuck after that with the teams tied at 17-17. The Malaysians won the next two points before a fortunate net cord set up three match points. They only needed one as Wang, whose level dropped significantly after the first game, netted a smash.
The second singles clash followed a similar pattern to the first. Li Shifeng just prevailed in the opening game against Leong Jun Hao before going 11-0 up in the second after the change of ends. Leong did provide some resistance after the interval, but Li won 21-17, 21-10 to put China 2-1 ahead.
With the chance to win the tie for China, He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu looked distinctly nervous at times during their match against Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin. The Malaysians silenced the home fans as they took the first game 21-19 in 19 minutes.
There was more concern in the stands as Goh and Izzuddin went 5-2 up in the second, but the Chinese rallied to secure eight of the next 10 points before taking an 11-9 lead into the mid-game interval. Back came the Malaysian duo, winning six out of eight points to go 14-12 ahead. But He and Ren managed to take the second 21-19.
The Chinese pair led 12-11 shortly after the final changeover and, galvanised by the crowd, pulled clear. Their speed at the net was too great for Goh and Izzuddin as they took the decider 21-12 to secure China a 3-1 victory.
Malaysia's 32-year-long Thomas Cup drought continues, but China are now one win away from a first title since 2018.
China and Indonesia met in the 2020 final in Aarhus, Denmark with Ginting, Alfian and Ardianto, and Christie securing a 3-0 victory. The four men will hope for a repeat on Sunday and a record 15th crown.
Uber Cup: Indonesia end 16-year final drought to set up China clash
The women's Uber Cup semis were first up on Saturday with Olympic champion Chen Yufei getting the hosts off to a strong start. She came through a tight opening game against left-hander Ohori Aya before prevailing 21-18, 21-15.
In the keenly anticipated doubles encounter, world number ones Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan won a thriller against Matsuyama Nami and Shida Chiharu. Chen and Jia levelled the match after the Japanese pair had taken the opener. In the decider, Matsuyama and Shida raced clear after the mid-game interval to take an 18-12 lead.
Jia then had to change her racket mid-rally but won the point with the crowd getting behind the home team. The Chinese reeled off the next five points to draw level as the tension and noise mounted. Matsuyama and Shida had two match points, but Chen and Jia saved them both before closing out victory 23-21 in the third.
The third rubber was far less intense as He Bingjiao defeated former world champion Okuhara Nozomi in straight games to book China's place in the final.
Indonesia's women will meet them after edging past reigning champions Republic of Korea to reach their first final since 2008. The absence of world number one An Se-young through injury proved crucial as the Koreans comfortably won both doubles rubbers but lost all three singles matches.
It was Komang Dewi who sealed the tie against Kim Min-sun. Left-hander Kim took the opener but world number 56 Dewi came back to square the match. Dewi led 11-9 at the changeover, and pulled clear before converting her fourth match point to win 21-19.
BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2024 - Results - Saturday 4 May
Thomas Cup semi-finals
Indonesia 3-0 Chinese Taipei
- Anthony Ginting (INA) def. Chou Tien Chen (TPE) 21-18, 21-19
- Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto (INA) def. Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin (TPE) 16-21, 21-19, 21-18
- Jonatan Christie (INA) def. Wang Tzu Wei (TPE) 21-11, 21-16
People's Republic of China 3-1 Malaysia
- Shi Yuqi (CHN) def. Lee Zii Jia (MAS) 21-19, 21-5
- Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang (CHN) lost to Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (MAS) 21-15, 12-21, 17-21
- Li Shifeng (CHN) def. Leong Jun Hao (MAS) 21-17, 21-10
- He Jiting/Ren Xiangyu (CHN) def. Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin (MAS) 18-21, 21-19, 21-12
Uber Cup semi-finals
People's Republic of China 3-0 Japan
- Chen Yufei (CHN) def. Ohori Aya (JPN) 21-18, 21-15
- Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan (CHN) def. Matsuyama Nami/Shida Chiharu (JPN) 14-21, 21-13, 23-21
- He Bingjiao (CHN) def. Okuhara Nozomi (JPN) 21-8, 21-18
Indonesia 3-2 Republic of Korea
- Gregoria Mariska Tunjung (INA) def. Sim Yu-jin (KOR) 21-15, 21-13
- Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (INA) lost to Baek Ha-na/Lee So-hee (KOR) 6-21, 18-21
- Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo (INA) def. Kim Ga-rum (KOR) 20-22, 21-16, 21-12
- Lanny Tria Mayasari/Ribka Sugiarto (INA) lost to Jeong Na-eun/Kong Hee-yong (KOR) 15-21, 14-21
- Komang Ayu Cahya Dewi (INA) def. Kim Min-sun (KOR) 17-21, 21-16, 21-19