China badminton makes historic "grand slam"

China's Gao Ling (L3) and Zhang Jun (R2) hold up the Sudirman Cup in the podium ceremony after China winning the final match at the 2005 World Mixed Team Badminton Championships for the Sudirman Cup in Beijing, China, May 15, 2005.

China won back the badminton Sudirman Cup to the overwhelming ovation of home fans, fulfilling a "grand slam" with Thomas and Uber Cups already in hands.

The hosts whitewashed their last rival Indonesia 3-0 in the ninth world mixed team championships to lift the Cup for a record fifth time here on Sunday.

China will also make the badminton history as the first nation to hold the three trophies at the same time.

"We're so proud to leave our mark in this sport. No other team has done that before," Chinese head coach Li Yongbo said.

"The 3-0 sweep is the best I could expect, and our best result for all our five victories."

Chinese have won the 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001 events in a row but lost the trophy two years ago to South Korea.

The four-time Cup winner dispatched all the big guns. Two-time Olympic champions Zhang Jun/Gao Ling started the final showdown for the hosts, taking on world No. 6 Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir.

The Chinese veterans countered strong resistance and lost the opener 12-15. But they regained form into the second game and beat the Indonesian duo 15-5, 15-8 to cheers from the packed stands.

"We know the opening victory means a lot to the team, but we dare not to think much," Zhang said.

"And of course we felt the pressure, especially in the first game. I'm glad we fight back to win, making it easier for our teammates."

Real climax came upon court when Chinese men's ace Lin Dan met Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat in the second event.

The clash went to the deadlock from the very beginning as Lin had to fight till 17-15 in the first game. Things then went easier for the current world No. 1 and he finished the second 15-9.

"Both of us played well, but I proved I could beat him although he took the Olympic gold medal," Lin said.

The 21-year-old was the pre-match favorite in Athens Games last year but was ousted in the first round to end his first-ever Olympic journey.

The women's single became a mere formality as Olympic gold medallist Zhang Ning was clearly too strong for Indonesian Fransisca Hari S.

Zhang ended a quick fight 11-1, 11-7 to seal China's sweeping victory.

Li, who steered the Chinese squad to clinch their first Sudirman title in 1995, paid tributes to his team and but owed the success to the efforts through generations of Chinese shuttlers.

"Ten years ago when we first embraced the Cup, we are considered as dark horse. Now we are everyone's target thanks to the contribution of those retired big guns."

The 42-year-old, known as "marshall" in China, has even looked into the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

"It's a new era for us but we won't stop here, the Beijing Games is our biggest goal.

"I hope we can have another grand slam then. Let's wait and see, " he said.

The hosts smashed Indonesia's hope to regain the trophy, named after the Indonesian badminton legendary Sudirman, after they won the 1989 inaugural event.

And a year ago, China won the other two team championships in Jakarta.