PETALING JAYA: It was a day of redemption for Kim Ga-eun as she delivered a crucial point to help South Korea upset favourites China and win their third Uber Cup Finals title in style in Horsens yesterday.
The 28-year-old was part of the team that shocked China at the 2022 Bangkok edition but failed to contribute a point then after losing the second singles to He Bingjiao.
This time, Ga-eun rose to the occasion, stunning 2020 Olympic champion and world No. 4 Chen Yufei 21-19, 21-15 in 55 minutes at the Forum Horsens to put South Korea 2-1 ahead against the 16-time winners.
Earlier, reigning Olympic champion An Se-young drew first blood, needing 47 minutes to overcome her nemesis Wang Zhiyi 21-10, 21-13 in the opening match.
China hit back through world No. 1 pair Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning, who levelled the score after pulling off a 21-15, 21-12 win against Jeong Na-eun-Lee So-hee in 53 minutes.
Inspired by Ga-eun’s upset, Baek Ha-na-Kim Hye-jeong fought back strongly to beat Jia Yifan-Zhang Shuxian 16-21, 21-10, 21-13 in the second doubles, sealing a 3-1 victory for South Korea.
South Korea had stunned China for the first time at the 2010 edition in Kuala Lumpur.
The Uber Cup title erased the sting of South Korea’s Thomas Cup group-stage exit and will surely put a smile back on head coach Park Joo-bong.
