NANNING, China, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Host China swept Thailand 3-0 to reach for the 13th straight time the final of the Sudirman Cup here on Saturday, aiming to reclaim the title it lost two year ago.
On Sunday, the ten-time winner of the Sudirman Cup will take on title favorite Japan, who eased past Indonesia 3-1 in the other semifinal.
China won the opening mixed doubles through world No. 1 Huang Yaqiong and Zheng Siwei, who rallied from a slow start to defeat the 4th-ranked Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-18, 21-7.
Shi Yuqi, the World Tour Finals 2018 winner, extended China's lead to 2-0 after saved four game points in the second game before beating Kantaphon Wangcharoen 21-15, 26-24 in men's singles.
"I didn't have much distracting thoughts during the last period of the second game, just aiming at taking back every point," said Shi.
China completed the rout in men's doubles as world's No. 3 Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen downed Tinn Isriyanet and Kittinupong Kedren 21-14, 21-17 in 44 minutes.
"We went through some difficulties but still we make it to the final, thanks to the efforts of all our teammates." said Xia Xuanze, the singles head coach of team China.
Japan is one win away from its first title of the 30-year-old Sudirman Cup.
Indonesia got the opening point in men's doubles as top-ranked Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamulio blew world No. 2 Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda 21-14, 21-18, but Akane Yamaguchi, the winner of Badminton Asia Championships 2019, tied it for Japan with an easy victory over Gregoria Mariska Tunjung 21-13, 21-13 in the women's singles.
World No.1 Kento Momota put Japan ahead by edging out Anthony Sinisuka Ginting 21-17, 21-19 in men's singles before Rio 2016 Olympic winners Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara snatching the winning point in women's doubles.
"Ginting is a great shuttler and tough to handle. During the last period of the match, I played more relaxed and took chance to win," said Momota, who was defeated by Ginting in straight sets in men's singles round of 16 at the 18th Asian Games.
