Crazy Feeling To Deny China From Retaining Uber Cup - Ha Na-Hye Jeong

From Amiril Muttaqien Meketar

HORSENS (Denmark), May 3 (Bernama) -- South Korean pair Baek Ha Na-Kim Hye Jeong summed up South Korea’s Uber Cup Finals 2026 glory in one word as ‘crazy’ after their match-winning heroics crushed China’s hopes of retaining the crown at Forum Horsens here today.

Ha Na-Hye Jeong came from behind to battle past world No. 4 pair Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian 16-21, 21-10, 21-13, in a hard-fought decider that lasted 85-minutes to seal South Korea’s third Uber Cup crown.

The 25-year-old Ha Na said the victory felt even more meaningful because it was achieved through collective belief and unity within the team throughout the campaign.

“Actually, I didn’t expect it at all (beat China), but of course, the desire to win was very strong. We kept saying encouraging things to each other and I think we continuously instilled the mindset in one another that we could do it.

“Honestly, winning the Uber Cup is something that is very difficult to do. Doing it like this, with everyone sharing one heart and one mind as a single team, is so meaningful,” she said after the prize giving ceremony.

Hye Jeong, 28, said the turning point for their win in the fourth match against Yi Fan-Shu Xian came when they returned to their natural game after a difficult opening set, shifting the rhythm in their favour.

“In the second set, we decided to go for longer rallies and play what we are originally good at from the start. That started working well and carried through into the third set,” she said.

World No. 1 women’s singles player An Se Young got the ball rolling for South Korea as she outplayed world No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi, 21-10, 21-13 in 47 minutes but China fought back through world No. 1 pair Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning, who restored parity with a solid 21-15, 21-12 victory over Jeong Na Eun-So Hee.

However, South Korea regained the upper hand as second singles and world No. 17 Kim Ga Eun pulled off an upset over world No. 4 Chen Yu Fei 21-19, 21-15 in 55 minutes before Ha Na-Hye Jeong rose to the occassion to bring the trophy back home.

Meanwhile, Se Young was delighted at clinching a second Uber Cup title after Bangkok 2022, and saying that the team would celebrate the victory with a party back at the hotel.

On the other hand, a visibly emotional Yi Fan admitted that she and partner Shu Xian were unable to cope with the pressure in the decisive moments, which prevented them from forcing a fourth match to decide the outcome.

“When I played in non-team events before I had not endured this kind of pressure. I feel like losing today was not actually as nerve-wrecking as I had imagined,” she said.

-- BERNAMA