Korea were never in danger of relinquishing their hold on the Mixed Team title with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat of China at the Universiade Gwangju 2015 yesterday.
The most exciting tie of the day was the L2 Final, in which India overcame Great Britain 3-2; Switzerland fought past Hong Kong 3-0 in the L3 Final.
The hosts might have anticipated a tough final against China as their challengers packed a few World Superseries-level players. Zhang Wen/Ou Dongni started off well for the Chinese, taking the opening game of their Mixed Doubles match against Kim Gi Jung/Shin Seung Chan (below). However, the Koreans picked up pace in the second game and cruised through in the end, 15-21 21-17 21-7, to score the opening point for the hosts.
Hong Kong Open champion Son Wan Ho (BWF home page) proved too strong for Gao Huan in the Men’s Singles, running away victorious 21-13 21-8 in just 31 minutes.
Korean icon Lee Yong Dae then combined with World champion Ko Sung Hyun against Zhang Wen/Wang Yilv in the Men’s Doubles. The Chinese stretched them in the opening game but once the Koreans had settled down, it was one-way traffic: 21-19 21-8 in 28 minutes.
The tie was preceded by an extraordinary L2 Final, in which fortunes see-sawed before finally going India’s way by the closest of margins.
Great Britain drew first blood in Mixed Doubles, with Martin Robert Campbell/Victoria Anne Williams holding off a spirited challenge from Hema Nagendrababu/Maneesha Kukkapalli in 37 minutes: 19-21 21-14 21-16.
Rohit Yadav struck back for India in Men’s Singles, taking 27 minutes to get past Matthew Carder: 21-18 21-15.
India then gained the advantage as Santosh Ravuri/Arjun Kumar Reddy overcame Martin Robert Campbell/Patrick Machugh 21-16 21-18.
However, Chloe Birch brought Great Britain back in the hunt decimating Leela Rachapalli in 17 minutes: 21-11 21-8.
With the tie at 2-all, the final Women’s Doubles match would decide the winners. The match reflected the closeness of the tie with the Indian pair Maneesha Kukkapalli/Meghana Jakkampudi taking the opening game against Caitlin Pringle/Victoria Williams, only for the British pair to rebound in the second game. Eventually, the Indians edged through: 21-9 13-21 21-19 to seal victory.
Switzerland had a tough tie against Hong Kong, with all three matches going to three games. Thomas Heiniger/Sanya Herzig gave them the lead in Mixed Doubles over Ng Ka Wai/Yeung Hiu Tung, 21-19 19-21 21-18.
Christian Kerchmayr (above) made it 2-0 in Men’s Singles, getting past Tang Ho Kan, 21-17 17-21 21-13, before Cendrine Hantz sealed the team win in Women’s Singles, over Yeung Lee Ling 21-10 17-21 21-18.
