Jiangsu bags women's badminton team gold medal at National Games

Jiangsu provincial team took the gold medal of women's badminton team competition after defeating Guangdong 3-1 at China's 11th National Games here on Tuesday.

It's the first time for Jiangsu to enter the final in 12 years and to lift the title in 16 years, while Guangdong has to finish runner-up for the third consecutive National Games.

Lu Lan, newly crowned world champion, represented Jiangsu in a singles tie against national teammate Xie Xingfang, the twice world champion and Olympic silver medalist who plays for Guangdong.

In the 42-minute match, Lu led the first game 4-0 before Xie managed to cut the deficit and leveled the score at 12-12. When trailing 20-16, Xie saved three game points before losing the game21-19. In the second set, Lu led all the way and never looked back to secure a comfortable win 21-9.

Athens Olympic Champion Yang Wei paired up with young shuttler Zhong Qianxin, ranked 68th in the world, and pulled one point back for Guangdong as they beat Tang Jinhua and Tan Wen 21-18, 21-12 in the women's doubles match.

In the following singles match, Wang Shixian, winner of last month's China Masters tournament, overcame Xia Jingyun 19-21, 21-13, 21-17 to put Jiangsu 2-1 ahead.

Sun Xiaoli and Cheng Shu did not let chances slip away as they outlasted Zhang Jiewen and Yao Guojun 17-21, 21-16, 21-16 to wrap up the victory for Jiangsu.

Source: Xinhua