TUC`12 - Finals

So, Uber Cup ended on Saturday, the 26th; and Thomas Cup ended yesterday, on Sunday, the 27th. It was both of China vs Korea, and the results were the same for both cups - China beat Korea 3-0.

I was too tired to make an update last night, so here's a late one.

On Saturday, I had class at 2 to 4pm, so I missed the first singles match between Wang Yihan and Sung Ji Hyun. I heard it was a very, very exciting one that seemed like Korea was going to win the first point for their team. Sung Ji Hyun had the first set, and was 20-16 in the second. Sadly, [I guess she lost patience/confidence] she lost 20-22 to Wang Yihan, and messed everything up in the deciding set.

Wang Yihan's expression when she finally won Sung Ji Hyun.
For her to have such an expression, could you imagine how much pressure she
was under(or, was given)- I thought.
Somehow, I truly pity Chinese players. Somehow.

That's about how Korea ended up 3-0 in the end. I guessed if Sung Ji Hyun had won, Korea might have had a chance, since she could have boosted their team spirit. But oh well, China deserved the win, I'd say. Yet, I must say I loved how Bae Youn Joo(second singles) managed to save a few match points(or Uber Cup points) when the spectators were all roaring and preparing to celebrate China's victory. Calm and cool.

I guess I've grown up, as I wasn't - at all - sad/disappointed about the Koreans' defeat. In my early years as a badminton fan, I used to shed tears when my favourite players/team lose(especially for Bao Chunlai); yet now, what I enjoy more is not the victory, but the sportsmanship. I love to see the smiles on the faces of players or teams who did not win.

To me, I feel it's usual for winners to smile, because they're happy; but for those who didn't win, to smile is to show they've enjoyed the game. That's the spirit I love. :)

Korean ladies(and coaches) with their silver medals.

Regarding the Thomas Cup finals, I had in mind a line-up which I thought would work - in the absence of the injured Jung Jae Sung, usual partner of Lee Yong Dae. In order, Lee Hyun Il, Shon Wan Ho and Lee Dong Keun or Hong Ji Hoon for the singles; and Ko Sung Hyun / Lee Yong Dae and Kim Ki Jung / Kim Sa Rang for the doubles. I thought Ko/Lee(in comparison to Ko/Yoo) might be a better pair to fight Cai Yun / Fu Haifeng, and Kim/Kim could try beating China's second doubles, whoever they put to play.

This idea was supported and agreed by a fellow colleague/friend (whom we call the Badminton Encyclopaedia of our team). But, to a slight astonishment, the Koreans had Kim Sa Rang / Lee Yong Dae on first, and Kim Ki Jung / Yoo Yeon Seong on second. That makes it two scratch pairs. I guess I understood the possible plan behind this line-up, but I couldn't be sure, so I just hoped the Koreans knew what they were doing. They love odd line-ups too much. But I'm not really against that.

Thomas Cup's victory ceremony. Nice confettiiii~~ :D

I thought, perhaps they felt Kim/Lee had a chance to beat Cai/Fu. Or perhaps, they didn't really think of winning, and the finals was more of a chance to gain more experience - especially for Kim Sa Rang (who's new to the international team and has the least experience in doubles, as he used to play singles), and partnering Lee Yong Dae to play against Cai / Fu is definitely gonna earn him a lot of experience. Or probably, the worst case scenario, they messed up the plan and didn't think it would lead them to defeat - but hmm, unlikely, I guess.

Anyway, put aside my unprofessional guesses. Lee Hyun Il lost to Lin Dan, Kim/Lee put up a good fight against Cai/Fu and lost, and Shon Wan Ho wasn't much of a threat for Chen Long. Korea lost 3-0 to China. A repeat of Thomas Cup 2008, just that Jung Jae Sung and Lee Yong Dae won a point for Korea back then.

Thinking about it now, it seems Korea's had tough luck for the Thomas Cups in 2010 and this year. In 2010, at Putra Stadium Bukit Jalil, Lee Yong Dae was absent due to his elbow injury; and this year, Jung Jae Sung stayed back in Korea due to a back injury. Also, in 2010, Korea played against China in the group matches(the day before quarter finals) and their quarter final's draw was to play China again; same case this year, but the opponent was Germany - much luckier this time.

Awwww. Look at those smiles at the victory ceremony. Heart-warming. Heart-
melting. It seemed to me that even China didn't smile like that holding the
Thomas Cup next to them.

Back to the point. Just as I've said earlier, I wasn't sad. I was really, really happy and touched to see the Koreans smiling on the stage at the victory ceremony. Ah, right! I loved how Kim Sa Rang was smiling even during the game against Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng. In the semis against Denmark, he looked so tensed. Yesterday, it seemed he enjoyed every rally in the game.  

I should be proud too, maybe, for I've seen the Korean men playing in the Thomas Cup finals for the first time in 2008; and seen with my own eyes in 2010, the ladies winning Uber Cup for the first time in history; and now I've seen the men entering the finals for the second time- first time along with the ladies. Maybe in 2014 it'll be time the Korean men to win Thomas Cup. Ho ho ho.

Anyway, that's about my Thomas and Uber Cups story for 2012.

On finals' day.

Do I have to say more about why I love the Korean badminton team this much? :D


P.S
Should have said this right after Malaysia Open 2012.
Kim Ki Jung is good looking! Pretty much 'my style', I'd say. ha ha 

P.P.S
I feel sorry for Dato' Lee Chong Wei's ankle injury. Happened so sudden and so soon that he cried, probably worried that he wouldn't be able to play well at the London Olympics. For the Malaysian Thomas team, though, it was a chance to learn to play without Dato'. High time to learn to be independent. Relying too much on Chong Wei is definitely not gonna do them any good. ;)

Retired while leading 2-1 against Peter Gade. Ouch
Gade knows how he feels, I'm sure.

P.P.P.S [sorry for P.S.ing thrice]
I have nothing against China ;)