PETALING JAYA: Little was expected of youngster Cho Hyeon-woo, but he rose to the occasion to save South Korea in Horsens yesterday.
With defeat looming, South Korea pulled off a dramatic 3-2 win over Taiwan in their Group C Thomas Cup Finals clash, thanks to the heroics of the 20-year-old Hyeon-woo.
The third singles player, who had featured in only three international tournaments this year, delivered under pressure to stun world No. 36 Lee Chia-hao 23-21, 12-21, 21-18 in the deciding match.
Taiwan had looked in control after Chou Tien-chen defeated Yoo Tae-bin 21-18, 21-16 before doubles pair Wang Chi-lin-Chiu Hsiang-chieh beat Jin Yong-Seo Seung-jae 21-10, 15-21, 21-11 for a 2-0 lead.
It was Seung-jae’s rare defeat in almost a year.
South Korea hit back through Choi Ji-hoon, who overcame Chi Yu-jen 21-17, 18-21, 21-16.
They then drew level when Kim Won-ho-Song Hyun-cho battled past Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan 20-22, 21-18, 21-19.
South Korea should beat Sweden in their final group tie and hope for Taiwan to lose in a must-win clash against hosts Denmark on Wednesday.
Denmark are chasing a perfect win group-stage record after earlier beating South Korea 4-1 and Sweden 5-0.
Denmark lost 1-3 to Taiwan in the quarter-finals of the 2024 edition in Chengdu.
“I’m really looking forward to the match against Taiwan,” said Ditlev Jaegar Holm in an interview with Badminton Denmark.
“I hope we can put pressure on them all the way and that there’s still something at stake when I’m in there.
“We have a lot of important preparation ahead of us over the next two days.”
