China make shock exit from Thomas Cup (updated)

Kento Momota falls to the floor after beating China's Du Pengyu 23-25, 21-18, 21-14. He sealed the last point for Japan's 3-0 win over China in the Thomas Cup semi-finals.

NEW DELHI: Kento Momota threw his racquet into the air and sprawled on the floor as his Japanese team-mates celebrated a historic moment – sealing a comprehensive 3-0 win over giants China in the semi-finals of the Thomas Cup Finals.

Momota had no energy left, having just toiled for 75 minutes to finish off China’s second-ranked shuttler Du Pengyu 23-25, 21-18, 21-14 to send Japan into the final for the first time in their Thomas Cup history at the Siri Fort Indoor Stadium on Friday.