The People’s Republic of China are closing in on BWF Sudirman Cup Finals glory for a 14th time in a row after advancing to the 2025 final on Saturday (3 May).

Spearheaded by badminton men’s singles world No.1 Shi Yuqi, the hosts swept Japan 3-0 in the semi-final to book their spot in the Sudirman Cup final in Xiamen.

China got off to a perfect start in the mixed doubles matchup, as Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Huang Dongping and partner Feng Yanzhe secured a 21-11, 21-17 victory against Midorikawa Hiroki and Igarashi Arisa.

The reigning Asian mixed doubles champions set the tie up nicely for Shi, who took on world No. 8 Naraoka Kodai in the men’s singles match. Powered on by the home crowd, he produced an impressive performance to prevail 21-8, 21-16.

Olympic gold medallist Chen Yufei was the shuttler with the task of sealing China’s 16th consecutive Sudirman Cup final. She lost the first game against world No. 4 Yamaguchi Akane, but ultimately recovered to defeat the Japanese athlete 17-21, 21-9, 21-16 and send China through to a home final.

Republic of Korea had a much harder time punching their way into the final with all of the team’s shuttlers needing to step onto the court for the five-match showdown against Indonesia.

Last edition’s silver medallists took the lead with a mixed doubles victory and Cho Geonyeop was on track to continue the winning streak when he took the first men’s singles game against Alwi Farhan but the Indonesian came back to easily take the next two games (16-21, 21-8, 21-8).

World No. 1 An Seyoung put Republic of Korea back on track with a two-set win in the women’s singles against Putri Kusuma Wardani, but the Indonesian men’s doubles duo Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and Bagas Maulana extended play into a final fifth match, which was a nervous three-set affair in the women’s doubles. Republic of Korea ultimately took the win (21-10, 18-21, 21-15).

China and Republic of Korea faced each other in the final of the 2023 BWF Sudirman Cup Finals with China coming out on top 3-0. Republic of Korea was the last team to win the world team championships, in 2017, before China broke away with three consecutive wins in the following editions.

The final will be broadcast on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app, subject to territorial restrictions.