Chapter 14 2. Beijing·Three cup gatherings, unique to China

In 2005, no country in the world could simultaneously own the three trophies that represent the highest honor in the world badminton world-the Thomas Cup, and the World Badminton Championship.Following the 2004 Tangyu Cup match in Jakarta, the Chinese team wanted to use the Soviet Cup to add to the icing on the cake. In May, when the Sudirman Cup came to Beijing, it was the 10th anniversary of the Chinese badminton team winning the Sudirman Cup for the first time in 1995. The Sudirman Cup in 1995 was the first world championship won by the Chinese team after Li Yongbo became the head coach, and also the first world championship for the "gold couple" Ge Fei and Sun Jun. After 10 years of ups and downs, the important task of winning the Su Cup was handed over to me and Xie Xingfang.

Although I made great contributions to regaining the Soup Cup the year before, neither Xie Xingfang nor I have participated in the Su Cup. In the spring of 2003, the Chinese team defeated Eindhoven, and Xie Xingfang and I were unable to attend the scene in person.Those who have watched the final will be able to clearly remember the pain of that year, because the Chinese team had the opportunity to achieve the fifth consecutive Soviet Cup championship. In the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, Zhang Jun/Gao Ling defeated the world's number one mixed doubles Kim Dong-moon/Luo Jingmin in the 1/8 finals, making a big upset. Among them, they only allowed their opponents to score 1 point in the second 2 rounds, which made the Koreans feel ashamed lose.Unexpectedly, when they met in the Su Cup final in 2003, the combination of Jin Dongwen/Luo Jingmin responded to Zhang Jun/Gao Ling with an 11-0 score.Without a point, this may be the worst defeat of the "golden combination" in their life.After the game, the two were scolded speechless by coach Li Yongbo.The mixed doubles between China and South Korea has formed a "beam" since then.

After Gong Ruina scored the women's singles point for the Chinese team, the Chinese team sent Chen Hong in the third men's singles match, but he was defeated by Li Xuanyi 0-2.Relying on the "rookie" level men's doubles has been unable to recover. The Chinese team lost 1 to 3 and lost the Sudirman Cup, which had monopolized for 88 years.After returning to China, even the formation of the coaching staff on the spot was questioned. After waiting for two years, the Chinese team finally ushered in the opportunity of "revenge" in Beijing. "The Sudirman Cup is still in the hands of the Koreans!" This sentence has always alerted everyone in the Chinese badminton team.

The Su Cup was held at the Beijing Capital Gymnasium.Speaking of the Capital Gymnasium, there is another origin. From the day the Sudirman Cup was born, it has the meaning of dealing with the Chinese army.That year, the Chinese team had just won five World Championships at the Capital Gymnasium.However, the world badminton has never been dominated by the Chinese alone.In the first three Soviet Cups, Li Yongbo, as an athlete, has not been able to get a gold medal.Especially in the first Soviet Union Cup, the Chinese team ranked first in five items in the world, but unexpectedly lost to South Korea in the semi-finals, which became an explosive news in the world badminton world in 1989.

In 2005, when the Sudirman Cup came to Beijing, everyone believed that South Korea would be the biggest threat to the Chinese team to regain the Sudirman Cup.They even recalled the legendary mixed doubles Kim Dong-moon and Na Kyung-min who had left the national team and hadn't participated in a game for 9 months. The goal is to defend the title. According to the usual practice, women's singles and men's singles are the second and third appearances in the five five individual events of the Su Cup.At the same time, Xie Xingfang and I were selected as the number one in the world for that Soviet Union Cup lineup.

In the semi-finals, we finally came to South Korea.However, the "Tai Chi Tiger" played Tai Chi, and the announced list of appearances was surprising.In the men's singles, men's doubles, and women's doubles, they used three rookies who had not yet appeared in this Su Cup.In the much-anticipated mixed doubles match, they actually hid the combination of Kim/Ro and only sent Lee Jae-jin/Lee Hyo-jung. After Zhang Jun/Gao Ling successfully scored the first point, the Chinese team was in full swing and the battle ended 3-0.In the other semi-final, Indonesia eliminated Denmark, and the Soviet Cup final evolved into a Sino-Indian duel.

I know that the battle between me and Taufik in the final is something I must face and win. In the group stage, the Indonesian team suffered a 0-5 humiliation and became the defeat of the Chinese team.Everyone knows that in the final, the Indonesians will never surrender easily.In the group stage, Taufik truce, we passed by.Before the final, Taufik took the initiative to say, "Didn't Lin Dan say he wanted to beat me at the Indonesian Open? I want to see how he wins tomorrow." Taufik refers to the Indonesian Open in 2004. Although I, Chen Hong, and Bao Chunlai made it to the semi-finals in the Chinese men's singles, Taufik beat me 2-1 in the semi-finals, and then won the final. Defeated Chen Hong to win the championship.

Such a topic, the media will naturally not let go.When they put Taufik's gauntlet in front of me, I was not polite, and I said, "I'll fix him tomorrow." This is my battle to rectify my name, and it is also a contest between men.After Zhang Jun/Gao Ling and Zhang Ning scored the first two points for the Chinese team, the third men's singles match came as scheduled. The Sudirman Cup is named after Mr. Sudirman, the former chairman of the Indonesian Badminton Association. Indonesians naturally want to take the Sudirman Cup home.When drawing up the entry list before the game, Director Li asked me if I had "confidence" in playing Taufik, instead of asking if I was "sure".I understand that Taufik is still a barrier in front of me, and I must lower my position.I can't disappoint my teammates and the Chinese audience at home.

17 to 15, 15 to 9, I won the game 2 to 0 in the end.I dedicated the only military salute in that Su Cup to this champion.Some people have counted that a total of 37 badmintons were replaced in the 59-minute fierce battle, which shows the intensity of the game. That was my first SU Cup.I didn't expect us to advance to the final so smoothly, but Denmark and South Korea were eliminated early, which gave me the opportunity to fight against Taufik. I am happiest not only by keeping the Sudirman Cup in China with my own hands, but also by defeating Taufik in an impeccable way.I really want to speak for myself, and I don't allow him to underestimate the Chinese men's singles like that.

From winning the cup for the first time in 1995, to revisiting the old dream in Beijing in 2005, dreaming of Sudirman for 10 years, the Chinese team finally won the cup for the fifth time. Without losing a set in 5 games, the Chinese team achieved a perfect ending in that Sudirman Cup.The celebration banquet was held at the Hunan Restaurant opposite the first body. The wine was the "Royal Salute" personally selected by Director Li. I have no way of counting how much I drank, but what I remember is that there were 6 boxes of soda water for the wine.This reminds me of the soup cup I "drunk" in Jakarta the year before, and the bitter taste in Athens.Slightly drunk, I felt a little uncomfortable when I was happy. When toasting to the coach, I said: "I will take back everything I lost."

From the loss of the Sudirman Cup in 2003 to the stay of the Sudirman Cup in Beijing on May 15, 2005, it took me two years to regain the Sudirman Cup with my teammates.And to regain the Olympic title, I need to spend another three years. On the second day after winning the SU Cup, we returned to the Temple of Heaven apartment from the first body.The Thomas Cup, Uber Cup, and Sudirman Cup finally met in Director Li's office.Yan Shiduo, director of the Training Bureau of the General Administration of Sport of China, sent a big cake with eight large characters written on it: "Taking the Su Cup lightly, and 08 ruling the roost". In the home of my predecessors Ge Fei and Sun Jun, there are two closets displaying various medals and trophies won by the two masters.Among them, three gold medals are in pairs, that is, the fourth, fifth and sixth Sudirman Cup gold medals. And now in the home of Xie Xingfang and me, the Sudirman Cup gold medals in 2005, 2007 and 2009 are also in pairs.We live up to our mission, this is our best tribute to our predecessors.

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