# Heartbreak for South Korea again as China retain title with 3-1 win
# ‘We are not good enough yet’ – Korean coach Kim Ji-hyun
By Rizal Abdullah
The South Koreans played bridesmaid for the fourth time in a row as China retained the mixed team title with a 3-1 win in the final in the Badminton Asian Junior Championships in Bangkok on Tuesday.
However, the Korean’s win in the boys’ doubles through Kang Min-hyuk-Kim Won-ho for their solitary point against the Chinese was soothing for the losers. The Korean pair put a dent in China’s pride with a 24-22, 12-21, 21-19 win over Han Chengkai-Zhou Haodong in an hour long match.
This was after China had taken a 2-0 lead by winning the opening tie – the mixed doubles through Du Yue-He Jiting and the the boys’ singles through Sun Feixiang.
Du Yue=He Jiting won 21-17, 21-19 against Kim Won-ho-Lee Yu-kim while Fexiang shut out Byun Jung-soo with a 21-8, 21-13 win.
Even China team manager Ding Ke gave credit to the Koreans for the win in the boys’ doubles and said: “This Korean pair will go far in their badminton career. They have a bright future.”
Ding Ke, however, added that China’s supremacy in the mixed team is second to none after the win against the Koreans in final.
“We are still the best in the mixed team and our fourth title in a row speaks of our strength in the game.”
Korea’s coach Kim Ji-hyun admitted that her team needs to work harder in the mixed team.
“We are not good enough but there has been some improvement in our overall game. The win in the boys’ doubles is some consolation,” said the former Korean international after the defeat.
China’s hope in the girls’ singles in the individual events which begin on Wednesday won her match against Kim Hyang-im gave China the winning point. The Chinese won 21-13, 21-15 in 36 minutes for an unassailable lead and the title.
The individual events get underway at the same venue on Wednesday.
RESULTS (Mixed Team Final)
China beat South Korea 3-1
(China first)
Boys’ singles
Sun Feixiang beat Byun Jung-soo 21-8, 21-13
Boys’ doubles
Han Chengkai-Zhao Haodong lost to Kang Min-hyuk-Kim Won-ho 22-24, 21-12, 19-21
Girls’ singles
Chen Yufei beat Kim Hyang-im 21-13, 21-15
Mixed doubles
Du Yue-He Jiting beat Kim Won-ho-Lee Yu-rim 21-17, 21-19
