Kuala Lumpur: South Korea stunned champions China 3-1 to win their first Uber Cup on Saturday and snap a run of five final losses to the badminton powerhouse.
Unheralded Bae Seung-hee upset world number one Wang Yihan 23-21 21-11 in the first singles match before Lee Hyo-jung and Kim Min-jung ground out a comeback 18-21 21-12 21-15 win over top-ranked doubles pair Ma Jin and Wang Xiaoli.
Wang Xin kept China's hopes alive with a 21-14 16-21 21-7 victory against Sung Ji-hyun but Lee Kyung-won and Ha Jung-eun sealed the championship when they toppled Olympic champions Du Jing and Yu Yang 19-21 21-14 21-19.
South Korea's triumph broke their opponents' unbeaten record in the prestigious biennial women's team tournament, China having won all six titles since 1998.
The loss was also at odds with China coach Li Yongbo's confident pre-match prediction.
"The final will be tough but the outcome will be the same. We will win again," Li told Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
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