GUANGZHOU (China), May 15: China breezed past the challenge of Hong Kong to seal a place in the final of the Uber Cup women’s team tournament Wednesday against the never-say-die Koreans.

Reigning champions China cruised to an emphatic 3-0 semifinal victory over minnows Hong Kong to set up a final showdown with Korea who earlier ground out a gritty 3-2 win over Holland.

Heavy tournament favourites China steamrollered through a hopelessly outgunned Hong Kong team in just 90 minutes at the Tianhe stadium.

A clincal display by Zhou Mi over Hong Kong’s top singles player Wang Chen killed all realistic hopes of Hong Kong pulling off a shock win.

World champion Gong Ruina then carried on the momentum to inflict the first defeat of the tournament on Hong Kong’s Ling Wan Ting.

Left hander Dai Yun clinched the victory over Koon Wai Chee that gave the Chinese an unbeatable 3-0 lead and kept them on course for their third straight title.

The final two dead rubbers were not played.

In the earlier semi-final clash on Wednesday, Korea battled their way past the Netherlands 3-2 after a gruelling four-hour duel.

Wednesday’s results:

Semifinals:

South Korea bt Netherlands 3-2 (Mia Audina (Ned) bt Kim Kyeung-Ran (Kor) 4-7, 5-7, 7-3, 7-0, 7-0; Lee Kyun-Won (Kor) bt Judith Meulendijks (Ned) 7-2, 2-7, 7-2, 7-3; Kwon Hee-Sook (Kor) bt Brenda Beenhakker (Ned) 7-5, 7-4, 4-7, 7-3; Lotte Jonathans/Mia Audina (Ned) bt Ra Kyung-Min/Lee Kyung-Won (Kor) 7-3, 7-5, 6-8, 7-5; Lee Kyeung-Ran/Hwang Yu-Mi (Kor) bt Karina de Wit/Judith Meulendijks (Ned) 7-5, 7-0, 8-6).

China bt Hong Kong 3-0 (Zhou Mi (Chn) bt Wang Chen (Hkg) 7-0, 7-2, 7-5; Gong Ruina (Chn) bt Ling Wan-ting (Hkg) 7-0, 7-0, 4-7, 7-1; Dai Yun (Chn) bt Koon Wai-chee (Hkg) 7-2, 7-0, 7-2).—AFP