KUALA LUMPUR (13 MAY 2010) – Defending champions China defeated South Korea in all five previous Uber Cup finals and chief coach Li Yongbo predicted that the figure will be six when the two meet again on Saturday.

“The final will be tough but the outcome will be same...we will win again. We have beaten the Koreans in our previous five meetings in the final. Come this Saturday, we will make it six,” said Yongbo.

“There are no two ways about it. It will be another win for the Chinese. We have gone from strength to strength and I am very pleased and happy with the way we come through to reach the final.”

In the semifinal tonight, China were simply too strong for the Indonesians. In the last Uber Cup final played in Jakarta in 2008, China beat Indonesia 3-0 to clinch their 11th Uber Cup title.

Wang Yihan ripped Indonesia’s No 1 Maria Febe Kusumastuti 21-7, 21-12 in 37 minutes. It was another easy win for China in the first doubles when Ma Jin-Wang Xiaoli clinched an easy 21-17, 21-13 win over Greysia Polii-Melliana Jauhari for the second point.

In the second singles, China’s Wang Xin defeated Adriyanti Firdasari 21-17, 21-15 for the winning point.

Indonesia’s coach Djendjen was a disappointed man after seeing his team fall by the wayside.

“Frankly, I am not happy with the way we played in the first singles and first doubles. We were simply disappointing in both matches. All I can say is that Firdasari was the only player who gave her best on the court.

“Mari Febe could not handle the pressure of high expectations we had on her. She is young and probably succumbed to the pressure. She also did not play to her true form,” said Djendjen.

“If we had the luck in the draw we would have been playing in the final. I can safely say that we could have beaten any other team other than China in the semifinals.

“We were expecting to meet China in the final. We were geared towards that but the luck of draw pitted us against the champions and favourites in the semifinals. It would have been different if we had played in the final,” added Djendjen. - Media 247

Caption

Pix 1: Ma Jin and Wang Xiaoli win China's second point

Pix 2: Wang Xin jubilates after securing the winning point