The Korea Herald

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[Asian Games] Korea shocks China to win men's badminton team gold

By 신용배

Published : Sept. 24, 2014 - 09:30

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South Korea upset China to take the gold medal in the men's badminton team event on Tuesday at the Asian Games.

South Korea defeated China 3-2 in the team competition at Gyeyang Gymnasium that involved three singles matches and two doubles matches.

China had won the two previous Asian Games gold medals in the men's team competition.

South Korean team players and staff react after beating China in men's badminton team event on Tuesday. (Yonhap) South Korean team players and staff react after beating China in men's badminton team event on Tuesday. (Yonhap)


Son Wan-ho defeated Chen Long in the opening singles match 2-1 (21-5, 22-24, 21-14). A doubles win by the world No. 1 team of Lee Yong-dae and Yoo Yeon-seong gave the host a 2-0 advantage.

China got one back thanks to Lin Dan's singles victory over Lee Dong-keun.

The Chinese tied the score after Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng defeated Kim Sa-rang, Kim Gi-jung in the doubles match that lasted over an hour.

Lee Hyun-il then stepped up for South Korea in the final singles against Gao Huan, and delivered the knockout blow with his 2-0 (21-14, 21-18) victory.

South Korea had settled for silver behind China at the 2006 and again at the 2010 Asiads. The last South Korean gold in the men's team badminton came in 2002, when the Asian Games were held in South Korea's Busan.

South Korea defeated Indonesia for the gold in 2002. The last time South Korea beat China for the men's team gold in badminton was in 1986 in Seoul.

The individual competitions start on Wednesday with the men's doubles and the women's singles and doubles. (Yonhap)