South Korean coach Kang Kyunh Jin could not help thanking Japan after his team reached Sunday's final against Japan in the inaugural Robot Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships in Ho Chi Min City in Vietnam.
The Koreans came back strongly to down Thailand 3-1 in a late night semi-final at the Nguyen Du Cultural Sports Club after losing the mixed doubles.
Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai defeated Korea's Choi Solgyu-Kim Ha-na 21-18, 18-21, 21-15 in the opening match for a 1-0 lead.
However, the Koreans won the men's singles through Son Wan-ho, men's doubles (Kim Gi-jung-Yoo Yeon-seong) before Sung Ji-hyun clinched the women's singles for the winning point.
"We have an even chance of winning the title now…thanks to Japan who knocked out top seeds and favourites China," said Kyung-jin after the win over Thailand.
"It will be a good and interesting final. Both teams have an even chance but with China out we would rate our chances just a good."
Wan-ho put Korea on level terms with a 21-18, 21-7, 21-19 win over Suppanyu Avihingsanon before Gi-jung-Yeon-seong won their doubles match against Nipitphon Phuangphuapet-Dechapol Puavaranukroh 23-21, 21-17 for a 2-1 lead.
Ju-hyun completed a her mission for Thailand with a 21-12, 21-14 win over Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the women's singles.
Earlier in the morning Japan pulled off the biggest upset with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over top seeds and favourites China 3-1 in the first semi-finals.
The Japanese displayed plenty of fighting spirit and even head coach Park Joo Bong was surprised with the "Saumrai Spirit" his players. In the same breath Joo Bong did not take the credit away from China.
"China is still the best team in the world. We won because of our tremendous fighting spirit…it even surprised me. I did not expect my team to win the men's singles.
It was a stunning comeback by the Japanese who lost the mixed doubles in the opening match with China's Zhang Nan-Chen Qingchen carving out a 22-20, 21-19 win over Japanese youngsters Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino in 41 minutes.
Kenta Nishimoto earned a standing ovation from the large turnout of Japanese community as he battled for 67 minutes to prevail 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 against Shi Yuqi in the men's singles – a win that hauled Japan back on track.
Japan were on victory trail when Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda snatched a 21-16, 16-21, 21-16 win over Li Junhui-Zheng Siwei. Akane Yamaguchi delivered the killer blow when she shut out Chen Yufei 21-15, 21-10 in the women's singles.
SEMI-FINAL RESULTS (Sat 18 Feb)
JAPAN 3 CHINA 1
(Japan first)
MS: Kenta Nishimoto beat Shi Yuqi 10-21m 21-19, 21-17
WS: Akane Yamaguchi beat Chen Yufei 21-15, 21-10
MD: Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda beat Li Junhui-Zheng Siwei 21-16, 16-21, 21-16
XD: Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino lost to Zhang Nan-Chen Qingchen 20-22, 19-21
KOREA 3 THAILAND 1
(Korea first)
MS: Son Wan-ho beat Suppanyu Avinhingsanon 18-21, 21-7, 21-19
WS: Sung Ji-hyun beat Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-12, 21-14
MD: Kim Gi-jung-Yoo Yeon-seong beat 23-21, 21-17
XD: Choi Solgyu-Kim Ha-na lost to Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai 18-21, 21-18, 15-21
