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Saturday May 17, 2008

Yongbo: China not taken to the full distance for a long time

CHINA chief coach Li Yongbo thanked the Malaysian squad for giving his team a great fight in the Thomas Cup semi-finals.

The outspoken Chinese said that it had been quite a while since their men’s team were required to go the full distance before winning a tie.

China needed their third singles player, Chen Jin, to secure a 3-2 victory with a 21-12, 21-16 win over Mohd Hafiz Hashim in the fifth match of the tie.

Prior to the semi-finals, the defending champions had breezed through their previous three encounters in the Finals without dropping a game, let alone a point.

“I have waited for this day for a long time. I finally get the chance to see another country giving the China men’s team a real fight right till the end,” said Yongbo.

“The Malaysians came here with a very strong squad and I am happy that my players managed to overcome them. The close margin of victory does not bother me because what was important was to get into the final.

“Our 3-2 win could have easily been 3-0 if Lin Dan had won the opening match. But it was not his day today and (Lee) Chong Wei was also at his best. In fact, Lin Dan’s defeat turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it spurred his team-mates to play harder and make up the deficit.”

Yongbo added that Lin Dan and second doubles pair of Xie Zhongbo-Guo Zhengdong, who lost the second doubles match, would be asked to prove their worth in the final.

“The best way for them to redeem their battered pride is by helping China retain the Thomas Cup. It can be South Korea or Indonesia, it does not matter. After today’s battling display against Malaysia, I am confident of my players beating any other team in the competition.”

China's second singles player Bao Chunlai, who defeated Wong Choong Hann 21-18, 21-7 to put the defending champions 2-1 up, was surprised by the easy manner of his victory.

“I knew there was a heavy responsibility on my shoulders to win a point after Lin Dan had lost the opening match. But I never expected to win this so easily. Choong Hann was clearly not playing at his best and I could capitalise on the situation,” he said.

Besides Chunlai and Chen Jin, China's other point was delivered by the first doubles pair of Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng.

Six-time champions China will be making their ninth appearance in the final of the Thomas Cup series tomorrow.

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