In the fierce competition in Group A of the 2024 Thomas Cup, the matchup between the Chinese team and the South Korean team became a highlight of the group stage. This is not only a technical contest, but also a psychological warfare. In the end, the Chinese team narrowly won 3-2 and sat firmly at the top of the group, showing the tenacity and determination of the players at critical moments!
The focus of this match is on the singles matchup, especially the performance of Shi Yuqi and Lu Guangzu of the Chinese team. Shi Yuqi got off to a bad start against South Korea's Jeon Yi Chen, losing the first game 14-21. But he quickly adjusted his strategy, stepped up his attack, and won two games in a row to win 21-17 and 21-15, earning a valuable point for the Chinese team. In the post-match interview, Shi Yuqi showed a high level of professionalism and psychological adjustment ability, he said that although the competition was under pressure, it did not reach the level of the Asian Games team final, and staying calm and focused is the key to winning the reversal.
The second singles match was played by Lee Shi-bong against South Korea's Lee Lun-gyu. Li Shifeng showed excellent skill and stable mentality, and won comfortably 21-15, 21-9 to add another point to the Chinese team. This match proved that Li Shifeng can not only play excellent individual skills at key moments, but also help the team consolidate their strengths.
However, in doubles, the Chinese team faces a challenge. Leung Wai Hang and Wang Chang battled Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae into a protracted battle, and although the Chinese fought back successfully in the second game, they eventually lost 15-21 in the deciding game. In the subsequent doubles match, Liu Yuchen and Ou Xuanyi played against Qi Dongzhu and Jin Yuanhao, and after three rounds of fierce battles, they lost by a narrow margin of 21-23, bringing the overall score to 2-2.
At critical moments, a victory in the fifth singles match was crucial. Lu Guangzu showed strong control and attack power against Yu Shengxun, and won the first game quickly 21-10. In the second game, Lu Guangzu continued to play well, although Yu Shengxun once chased the score, he served steadily and attacked accurately, and finally sealed the victory 21-11, winning the final victory for the Chinese team, and showing his excellent performance and game wisdom under pressure.
The 3-2 victory not only ensured the top spot of the Chinese team in Group A, but also demonstrated the team's tenacious will and coordination at critical moments. The game was full of drama, with surprises and ups and downs, but the Chinese team remained calm and focused.
From a technical point of view, the singles victory laid the foundation for the Chinese team, especially Shi Yuqi's comeback and Lu Guangzu's finale victory. Shi Yuqi's adjustment and tactical adaptation in the face of adversity showed his maturity and progress, while Lu Guangzu showed strong field control and game strategy, and was able to calm down in the face of Yu Shengxun's chasing points, which not only showed his personal strength, but also won a crucial point for the Chinese team.
However, this match also exposed the problems of the Chinese team in the doubles event, and the two doubles defeats made the Chinese team's road to promotion suspenseful. Leung Wai Hang/Wang Chang and Liu Yuchen/Ou Xuan Yi were positive and eager to win, but they could not withstand the pressure and eventually lost after three hard-fought games. The loss in the doubles event reminded the Chinese team that they need to strengthen their coordination and training to cope with the fiercer competition in the future.
Overall, the match earned China the top spot in the group stage and provided experience and lessons. The success in singles showed the improvement of the players' individual skills and mental qualities, while the defeat in doubles reminded the team that there is still room for improvement in coordination and cooperation. In the future games, the Chinese team needs to continue to play to its advantages, improve its shortcomings, and meet the challenges with a better attitude.
This Thomas Cup Group A victory also demonstrates the strength of the Chinese team in the international badminton arena. Through this narrow victory, we have seen the tenacity, teamwork and on-the-spot performance ability of the Chinese badminton team. I look forward to maintaining good form in the future competitions and achieving greater success in the Thomas Cup journey.