Japan's dream dashed as China win 11th Sudirman Cup title

China's electrifying Sudirman Cup ride reached a happy ending on Sunday afternoon as the hosts dismantled top-seeded Japan 3-0 in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, lifting their 11th mixed-team badminton world championship.

China's Chen Yufei celebrates after defeating Japan's Akane Yamaguchi during their women's singles final match at the 2019 Sudirman Cup world badminton championships in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on May 26, 2019. [Photo: AFP]

World men's doubles champion Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen got the ball rolling after they outclassed Hiroyuki Endo and Yuta Watanabe 21-18, 21-10.

China doubled the lead when third-ranked women's singles star Chen Yufei mounted a stunning recovery to prevail 17-21, 21-16, 21-17 in 81 minutes of thrilling action against Akane Yamaguchi.

It was then down to top-ranked Chinese player Shi Yuqi to seal the title for China. The 23-year-old duly delivered as he roared back from behind to overwhelm Japan's world No.1 Kento Momota 15-21, 21-5, 21-11.