WORLD UNIVERSITY CHAMPS – Zheng/Ma stumble but China wins team final

In spite of the loss by their recently crowned world champions Zheng Bo and Ma Jin, China won the title in the team event of the World University Badminton Championships, held in Taiwan this week. The Chinese beat Taiwan 3-2 in the final just before the kick-off of the individual event.

By Raphaël Sachetat. Photos: Badmintonphoto (archives)

Zheng Bo and Ma Jin maybe world champions, yet they failed to deliver a crucial first point in the final of the team event against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Hung Ling and Wang Pei Rong, after a never ending game. And after Du Pengyu logically put all teams back to square one, once again, the local heroes took the lead with world’s sixth best pair of Fang and Lee beating youngsters Wei and Liu. China couldn’t afford to lose any more points, which didn’t seem to bother Li Xuerui, who coped with the pressure easily, getting rid of Cheng Shao Chieh 21-11, 21-9. The crucial game was the first game of the women’s doubles, when Ma Jin may have remembered her old demons and the Uber Cup final, but she finally got the hang of her nerves and she and her team mates Cheng Shu eventually beat Cheng and Hsieh 22-20, 21-14, giving China the team title.

The bronze medal match was played between Korea and Thailand and saw the Thai wonders beat the Koreans 3-1. Only Shon Wan Ho was able to scoop a point for Korea. The semi-finals had seen China beat Thailand 3-0 and Taipei take over Korea 3-0 as well.

Scores of the final

Mx : Chen/Wang (TPE) beat Zheng/Ma (CHN) : 20-22, 21-18, 21-18
MS : Du Pengyu (CHN) beat Hsueh Hsuan Yi (TPE) : 21-12, 21-14
MD : Fang/Lee (TPE) beat Wei/Liu (CHN) : 21-12, 21-18
WS : Li Xuerui (CHN) beat Cheng Shao Chieh (TPE) : 21-11, 21-9
WD : Ma /Cheng (CHN) beat Cheng/Hsieh (TPE) : 22-20, 21-14

Final standing of the team event

Gold medal: China
Silver medal: Chinese Taipei
Bronze medal: Thailand

4. Korea
5. Japan
6. Poland
7. Indonesia
8. England
9. Spain
10. Switzerland
11. Singapore
12. India

All results HERE