Thomas Cup 2010, China won 4th crown in a row

As expected, mighty China won the 2010 Thomas Cup, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, beating arch rival Indonesia 3-0 in the final, held today Sunday, 16 May 2010.

It is China 4th straight Thomas Cup, winning the coveted trophy 8 times since 1982.

The Great Wall of China remains firm and strong.

Chen Jin gave China their fourth Thomas Cup crown in a row when he overcame Indonesia’s Simon Santoso in the second singles to win the third point for the 3-0 win at the Putra Stadium.


Lin Dan jubilates after beating Taufik Hidayat

China led 1-0 after 3 time world champion and 2008 Olympic champion, Lin Dan overpowered former world champion and 2004 Olympic Champion, Taufik Hidayat 21-7, 21-14 in the first singles. Taufik Hidayat gave his best, but could only get 7 points in the 1st set.

In the second set, Taufik tried his very best to match Lin Dan but had to contend with only 14 points as the Chinese ace swept through with powerful display of smashes, cross courts and deceptive shots, much to the delight of the crowd and millions more watching live on TV around the world.

The second match, pitted the current men's doubles World champion against the current men's doubles Olympic champion!!!

2006 and 2009 world champion and 2008 Olympic silver medalist, Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng finally outlasted 2008 Olympic Champion and 2007 world champion, Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan 25-23, 16-21, 21-12. The Indonesian pair nearly delivered the 1st point for their country in the 1st set, but the Chinese pair held their breath and composure and finally won the breath taking 1st set, 25-23.

In the 2nd set, Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan upped their tempo and won 21-16. However in the deciding game, Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng showed why they are the top badminton doubles team in the world by dispatching the Indonesian pair, 21-12.


Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng rejoices after beating Markis Kido - Hendra Setiawan

At 2-0 in favour of China, it was up to Chen Jin to wrap up the third vital point.

And the 2008 All-England winner, 2008 Olyimpic bronze medalist, 2009 world championship runners-up and world no 4, did not disappoint.

After losing the first set 19-21, he bounced back to win the second set 21-17 and then the third set 21-7 to give China their fourth crown on a trot and eighth overall.

After his win against Taufik Hidayat, Lin Dan said “I am not a class above the rest,”.

Lin Dan who is China’s three-time world champion, destroyed Indonesia's former Olympic and world champion Taufik Hidayat 21-7, 21-14 to clinch the all important first point for the defending champions in the Thomas Cup final.

The packed Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil saw Lin Dan at his best, leaving Taufik dazed with his all round superiority after a string of disappointing results before coming to Kuala Lumpur.

The first set lasted only 17 minutes as the Chinese ace raced to a 6-0 lead before Taufik got his first point in the game.

By the time the score reached 11-1, it was one-way traffic all the way as Lin Dan wrapped up the set in style.

Taufik did offer some resistance in the second set but there was no stopping Lin Dan.

With the score at 7-5 in his favour, Lin Dan stepped on the pedal and easily went on to take the set and match at 21-14 in 43 minutes.

Lin Dan seemed to tell the crowd 'who else but me' each time he scored a point with his outstretched hands much to the delight of the Chinese supporters.

“I am tired, very tired. I hope to change my economy class ticket to first class when we return home tonight,” said Lin Dan.

“I am happy to have got the chance to play (Lee) Chong Wei and Taufik and beating them both. They are two of the best players in the world. Chong Wei is still the most difficult player to play against.

“Today, we (Taufik and myself) tried to win the first point for our country. It was our responsibility to get the first point and I won.

“I put in a lot of effort in my win but I must say that I am not a class above the rest as many have made out. Chong Wei, Taufik and Peter (Gade Christensen) are at the same level.

“We have players like Chen Jin, Bao Chunlai and Chen Hong in the next group.”

When asked about his coach Tang Hsien Hu, whom he hugs first after each match, Lin Dan said: “Tang is a legend. He is like a grandfather to me. He is an expert whose techniques and badminton skills are second to none.”

Tang has somewhat revived Lin Dan’s career after a poor start to the season when he was beaten in the All England and the Swiss Open before winning the Asian Badminton Championships in New Delhi before coming to Kuala Lumpur.

Lin Dan’s next tournament is the inaugural Professional League in China which begins at the end of this month.

“We want to make this league very successful. I hope the foreign players will compete in this league,” added Lin Dan

Thomas Cup 2010, Malaysia conceded easy defeat to China

Malaysia's world no.1 Lee Chong Wei could not believe he lost easily 17-21, 8-21 to world no.2 and 2008 Olympic Champion and 3 time World Champion - Lin Dan or Super Dan of China.



World no. 2, 2008 Olympic Champion and 3 time world champion, Lin Dan performing the break dance or Robot dance after his easy 21-17, 21-8 win over world no.1 and Malaysia's strongest hope for the 2010 Thomas Cup, Lee Chong Wei. The win paved the way for mighty China to win 3-0, and qualify for the final, meeting Indonesia on Sunday 16 May 2010.



This was how Lin Dan dismantled Lee Chong Wei during their match in the 2010 Thomas Cup semifinal in Kuala Lumpur.


16,000 Malaysians and millions more watching on TV were flabbergasted and shocked when Lin Dan made Chong Wei looked like a novice in his own backyard.

THREE-time world champion Lin Dan did what he does best - make world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei look like a novice in front of thousands of delirious home fans - at the Putra Stadium yesterday, during the crucial 1st match of the 2010 Thomas Cup semifinal.

Had Chong Wei, the 2010 All England champion won, Malaysia stand a good chance of upsetting mighty China and breaking the great wall of China to reach the Thomas Cup final, 2010 edition, after an 18 year hiatus.

But it did not turn the way, millions of Malaysian had been hoping for.

To the surprise of Malaysians locally and abroad, Chong Wei lost easily, he managed to get only 8 points in the 2nd set. Chong Wei was not his usual self, there was no fighting spirit, no battle cry and no barrage of attacks/smashes/deceptive shots and strokes. If only Chong Wei can emulate Japan's world no. 40 - Sho Sasaki gallant fighting spirit - then the match result would have been in favour of Malaysia.

Sho Sasaki - a less known Japanese player, proved his mettle when he defeated Wong Choon Hann of Malaysia in the group stage and later Simon Santoso of Indonesia in the semifinal, despite being only world no. 40 and having no super series titles in his badminton career.

Infact, Chong Wei loss in the semifinal to Lin Dan was almost identical to his easy loss of 21-12, 21-8 at the hand of the same opponent, in the 2008 Olympics Games final in Beijing.

It was Chong Wei first defeat this year, having won all 3 super series tournaments he took part this year - the 2010 Korean Open, the 2010 Malaysian Open and the 2010 All England.

Infact, Malaysians were not happy by the way the Malaysian team was easily defeated by China - there was no fighting spirit, infact Chong Wei, the men doubles world no.1 Koo Kien Kiat and Tan Boon Heong and 2nd singles - Wong Choon Hann - only collected 11 points or less in the 2nd sets of their respective matches.

In yesterday match, Lin Dan's tactic - to win a psychological war against the Malaysian - succeeded.

The supremely confident Lin Dan pulled off a stunning 21-17, 21-8 lop-sided win over Chong Wei in 47 minutes to get the crucial first point for China.

Much was made out of this clash between the world's two best players but, in the end, only Lin Dan enjoyed himself to the fullest - toying with Chong Wei with such ease and control.

And to cap off a magnificent display, he took off his shirt and performed a break dance.

His on-court arrogance, however, vanished when he spoke of his sensational victory at the press conference.

The spiky-haird Lin Dan even sounded sympathetic with Chong Wei's defeat.

“Malaysia have not won the Cup for 18 years and there were great expectations on him (Chong Wei).

“There was too much pressure on him,” said Lin Dan. “It is not that Chong Wei's game was predictable but, I think, he was under pressure and could not play his game.

“I knew that I could not let Chong Wei win the first point and I played well from the start. It was an important match for China too.”

Lin Dan, himself a former world No. 1, said he still looked up to two players - Chong Wei and Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia.

“I have achieved my biggest dream by winning the Olympic and world titles. Now, it is all about enjoying the game.

“I may be out to beat Chong Wei and Taufik but, off the court, I would like to be their friends,” he said. “Hopefully, the three of us will continue to give badminton fans around the world happiness through our game.”

Asked whether taking off his shirt was a celebration ritual for him, Lin Dan said in jest: “The first time I took off my shirt was at the 2004 Thomas Cup Finals. I was so happy when I defeated Peter (Gade-Christensen of Denmark). I was young then.

“This time, I took off to see whether I am as muscular as before!”

His fans can look forward to a similar celebration if he takes down Taufik when China meet Indonesia in the final tomorrow.

In the end, China ended Malaysia's hope for Thomas Cup title in 18 years with a 3-0 scoreline (Lin Dan beat Lee Chong Wei 21-17, 21-8; World champion Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng beat world no. 1, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong 21-15, 21-10; World no. 3 Chen Jin beat world no. 16 and 1997 world championship runner-up, Wong Choong Hann 21-16, 21-7).

Malaysia last won the Thomas Cup in 1992 in Kuala Lumpur after beating Indonesia 3-2 in the final. The hero in 1992 included 1st single - Rashid Sidek, now head coach of Malaysia badminton team, 2nd singles - Foo Kok Keong and 2nd doubles - Cheah Soon Kit and Soo Beng Kiang who clinched the 3 winning points for Malaysia on that glorious and historic night. In that memorable 1992 match - Malaysia's top doubles - Razif and his brother Jalani Sidek lost, but they helped Malaysia qualified to the final with a win over the top Chinese pair of Tiang Bingyi/Li Yongbo in the semifinal.