China successfully defended their BWF Thomas Cup crown with a 3-1 victory over France in a thrilling final in Horsens, Denmark, on Sunday, while the Republic of Korea shocked defending champions China to lift the Uber Cup for the third time in their history.
Thomas Cup Final: China 3–1 France
China claimed their 12th Thomas Cup title since the tournament’s inception in 1982, overcoming a spirited French side that celebrated its best-ever result.
Shi Yuqi set the tone for China, grinding out a hard-fought 21-16, 16-21, 21-17 win over Christo Popov in an 85-minute opener.
Alex Lanier quickly responded for France, dismantling Li Shifeng 21-13, 21-10 in just 43 minutes to level the tie.
The pivotal third point was secured by Weng Hongyang, who edged Toma Junior Popov 22-20, 20-22, 21-19 after a gripping 96-minute battle.
He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu clinched the title for China with a dominant 21-13, 21-16 doubles win over Eloi Adam and Leo Rossi.
Uber Cup Final: Republic of Korea 3–1 China
On the women’s side, Korea stunned defending champions China to capture their third Uber Cup crown, adding to previous triumphs in 2010 and 2022.
World No. 1 An Se-young delivered a statement victory, outclassing Wang Zhiyi 21-10, 21-13 in 47 minutes to give Korea an early lead.
China answered through Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning, who took the doubles against Jeong Na-eun and Lee So-hee 21-15, 21-12.
Korea surged ahead as World No. 17 Kim Ga-eun upset Olympic champion Chen Yufei 21-19, 21-15 in the second singles.
In the crucial fourth match, the Korean pair Baek Ha-na and Kim Hye-jeong rallied from a game down to defeat Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian 16-21, 21-10, 21-13, sealing the title.
Both finals showcased dramatic momentum swings and world-class badminton, with China’s men continuing their legacy and Korea’s women cementing their status at the top of the sport.
