Smashing success

Young stars shine, as China claims 14th Sudirman Cup

Its record 14th mixed team title for sure deserves all the plaudits, but it's the maturing of a younger generation that has left China's badminton program feeling good entering the new Olympic cycle.

Despite losing its seeming invincibility in some individual events, the Chinese badminton team has again proved that its collective might, in both genders, remains beyond the reach of its rivals, as it celebrated winning its fourth straight Sudirman Cup Finals in Xiamen, Fujian province, on Sunday.

The battle for the throne at the biennial world mixed team championship has turned out to be, arguably, the least unpredictable across all of sport's major tournaments after Team China collected a record-extending 14th title on home soil at the Cup Finals' 19th edition. Only two other nations, South Korea and Indonesia, have ever touched the trophy in the championship's 36-year history.