Driven by the disappointment of missing out on the semifinal lineup, Kim Ga Eun delivered a standout performance that propelled Korea to their third Uber Cup title against China.
With the final tied at 1-1, Kim shifted the momentum by defeating Chen Yu Fei in straight games. Displaying exceptional determination, agility, and composure, she controlled the match from start to finish, setting up her teammates Kim Hye Jeong and Baek Ha Na to seal the victory.
“I wasn’t selected for the semifinal against Indonesia because my earlier performances weren’t strong,” Kim said. “But that gave me extra rest and motivation for today, so I’m really happy with how things turned out.”
Chen admitted Kim’s superiority on the day: “She was very patient. I made too many mistakes and wasn’t quick enough. She took full advantage of that.”
Meanwhile, An Se Young continued her dominant run. Following her loss in the All England final to Wang Zhi Yi, she has sharpened her game significantly. That improvement was evident in her commanding 21-10, 21-13 win, adding to her recent Badminton Asia Championships success.
“I’m really happy to win the first point,” An said. “I stayed focused on every rally, trusted myself, and kept attacking.”
Korea experimented with new doubles combinations. While Lee So Hee and Jeong Na Eun fell to the world champion pair Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning, the adjustment paid off in the second doubles match. Baek Ha Na and Kim Hye Jeong showed resilience and tactical sharpness, countering effectively to overcome Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian in a hard-fought 16-21, 21-10, 21-13 victory after 85 minutes.
“An gave us the perfect start,” said Lee So Hee, a member of Korea’s 2022 title-winning team. “I’m grateful to Jeong for partnering with me. Ga Eun handled a very tough match brilliantly, and Kim and Baek were outstanding.”
