Shi returns with a smashing performance

China's top player is back to his best as Paris beckons

Hitting cross-court drops to dictate the play before smashing his point home, Shi Yuqi looked like his fierce younger self again, as he propelled Team China to its 11th Thomas Cup win in Chengdu on Sunday.

Watched by a group of badminton legends, including two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan, Shi made a statement at the world men's team championship final on Sunday, punctuating his revival with a rout of world No 7 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in straight sets, giving the host a head start in its best-of-five showdown against Indonesia. Fans were reminded of the fearless youngster who, in his early years, drew comparisons with the mighty "Super" Dan.

A series of setbacks, including three surgeries and a suspension, had threatened to derail Shi's career before it really took off, but they simply proved to be bitter, character-building steps on the path to something great, as highlighted by his newfound momentum at the Thomas Cup.