PETALING JAYA: Hosts and defending champions China have set up a final meeting against Japan in the Asia Team Championships after coming from behind to beat South Korea 3-2.
China looked to be in trouble after singles shuttler Wang Zhengxing and doubles duo He Jiting-Ren Xiangyu lost the first two matches to Yoo Tae-bin and Kim Won-ho-Jin Yong respectively at the Qingdao Conson Gymnasium on Saturday (Feb 7).
The 2024 world junior champion Hu Zhean though reignited the hosts’ hopes by beating Choi Ji-hoon 21-13, 21-19 in the second singles.
Chen Junting-Liu Junrong then defeated Song Hyun-cho-Ki Dong-ju 21-15, 21-14 in the second doubles to make it 2-2
In the third singles, Dong Tianyao completed the remarkable comeback by overcoming Cho Hyeon-woo 21-6, 21-19.
Meanwhile, Japan booked their spot in the title match after coming out on top 3-1 against Indonesia.
Singles player Yushi Tanaka and doubles pairs Kakeru Kumagai-Hiroki and Takumi Nomura-Yuichi Shimogami delivered the points for Japan.
RESULTS
Semi-finals
Men's team: China bt South Korea 3-2 (Wang Zhengxing lost to Yoo Tae-bin 19-21, 21-16, 13-21; He Jiting-Ren Xiangyu lost to Kim Won-ho-Jin Yong 15-21, 17-21; Hu Zhean bt Choi Ji-hoon 21-13, 21-19; Chen Junting-Liu Junrong bt Song Hyun-cho-Ki Dong-ju 21-15, 21-14; Dong Tianyao bt Cho Hyeon-woo 21-6, 21-19), Japan bt Indonesia 3-1 (Kenta Nishimoto lost to Moh Zaki Ubaidillah 20-22, 16-21; Kakeru Kumagai-Hiroki Nishi bt Rian Ardianto-Leo Rolly 21-16, 21-17; Yushi Tanaka bt Prahdiska Bagas 21-11, 21-15; Takumi Nomura-Yuichi Shimogami bt Raymond Indra-Nikolaus Joaquin 21-17, 21-15).
