Hangzhou: The South Korean women’s badminton team won their first Asian Games gold medal in 29 years on Sunday, defeating China 3-0 in the team final in Hangzhou, China.
The South Koreans got off to a strong start on Sunday, with An Se Young defeating Chen Yufei 21-12, 21-13 in the first women’s singles match. An, who is the world No. 1 and the reigning world champion, has now won three consecutive matches against Chen, the Tokyo Olympic champion.
Highlights of An Se Young vs. Chen Yufei in the 2022 Asian Games final:
The South Korean women’s doubles pair of Lee So-hee/Baek Ha-na then defeated Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan, China’s World No. 1 women’s pair 21-18, 21-14, to give South Korea a 2-0 lead in the tie.
In the third and final match, Kim Ga-eun sealed the victory for South Korea with a win over He Bingjiao 23-21, 21-17.
Highlights of Kim Ga-eun vs. He Bingjiao in the 2022 Asian Games final:
The South Korean victory was a major upset, and it was a testament to the strength and depth of their team. It was also a sign that the balance of power in women’s badminton is shifting, with South Korea now emerging as a major challenger to China’s dominance.
Many Chinese players were visibly upset after the defeat, with some of them shedding tears.
“I really want to win,” said Jia Yifan, one of the Chinese women’s doubles players. “I have worked hard to mobilize myself on the court, and the opponent is also very targeted. The result is either a loss or a win, a win or a loss. It is a pity that I did not win for the team. I am not a god, sometimes, I would lose too,” said Jia.
He Bingjiao, another Chinese player, also burst into tears during the award ceremony.
The Chinese women’s badminton team has been one of the most successful teams in the world for many years, but this defeat is a sign that they are not invincible. South Korea is now a team to be reckoned with, and the two teams are likely to be engaged in many more close battles in the future.
