TOKYO: World No 1 Lin Dan shocked struggling Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat Friday to lead defending champions China to a 3-0 win over Indonesia for a place in the Thomas Cup final

. "I'm glad that my players did a wonderful job today. They played really well. Even when they were down, they never lost their strong will to win. We proved how wonderful Chinese players are," said China coach Li Yongbo.

The 22-year-old Chinese ace only went down to 11-12 in the first game, but was never really in danger throughout the 42-minute match scoring a 21-16, 21-8 win to put China one up.

"I got off to a solid start and I was able to notch up a lead in both games. It seemed Taufik felt it was difficult to catch up with me," said Lin, who combined an array of smashes with a disguised overhead drop shot.

"It was important to beat him and get one win for China. I think I gathered the momentum to our side. I really wanted to beat him since I lost to him in the 2005 world championships."

It was the first tournament in six weeks for Hidayat because of an injury layoff and a third defeat during the team competition.

"I was not in good form. This is the best I could do at this moment. I couldn't do any more," said the Olympic champion, who saw his record against Lin reduced to 2-3 in major tournaments. In a nerve-wracking second match, Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng edged past Luluk Hadiyanto and Yulianto Alven 24-22, 21-17 after saving one game point in the first at 21-22.

A service return winner made it a deuce and then Fu attacked at the net for a clean winner to take a 23-22 lead and he fired an stoppable smash to gain the momentum.

The Chinese pair came back from behind to take a 17-16 lead and then took a commanding 20-17 lead thanks to Cai's smash. The match ended abruptly when the Indonesian pair watched Cai's long serve land gently inside their court.

"We tried to play aggressively. Although we made some errors to go down in the second game, we were always confident, because in the 21-point system, a difference of three or four points doesn't mean anything," said Cai.

Bao Chunlai jumped ahead from a 16-16 tie on his way to a 21-17, 24-22 victory over three-time Asian champion Soni Dwi Kuncoro, denying Indonesia's hopes of winning their 14th Thomas Cup.

"I didn't have any strategy," said Bao, who came back from 5-11 down

Later yesterday, European powerhouses Denmark were forced to work hard to beat five-time winners Malaysia 3-2.

Former world No 1 Peter Gade put Denmark one up when he outlasted world number two and Asian champion Lee Chong Wei 21-19, 21-18.

"I knew Lee Chong Wei has been playing very well the last half of the year, but I knew I have my chances if I play my game and I played my game. I took the points when I had to," said Gade.

"I knew if I could keep being a few points ahead when we came into the last stages, I knew I could grab the points, because he (Lee) felt a bit insecure in controling the winds and controlling the shuttles.

"I'm so happy that I can give my team a 1-0 lead. This will make things a little bit easier, but we still need to fight to get the job done today. Malaysia is a very tough opponent," added the Dane.

Lee said was under pressure and made mistakes.

"I felt under pressure, because it was the first point Malaysia needed to take. Peter was able to lead his game very well. I made too many mistakes," he said.

Nothing was easy for either side as Koo Kien Keat and Chan Chong Ming squandered several match points in the second game before beating world number one pair Martin Lundgaard Hansen and Jens Eriksen 21-17, 28-30, 21-6.

World No 7 Kenneth Jonassen gave Denmark a 2-1 lead by beating 2003 All England champion Muhammad Hafiz Hashim 20-22, 21-12, 21-17.

"I knew it was gonna be a tough match against Hafiz. He's some great shots, he's dangerous, so I'm very pleased today," said Jonassen.

"Today was the key victory for Denmark in the second men's singles, I wanted to do it so badly. I've lost all the other semi-finals I've played in the Thomas Cup, so today was so important. This was a crucial victory for me and Denmark," he added.

Malaysia again tied the best-of-five contest when the Commonwealth Games silver medallist pair of Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah subdued Boe Mathias and Carsten Mogensen 21-12, 15-1, 21-19.

But Denmark dashed any of Malaysia's hopes when Joachim Persso won the decider 21-12, 21-19 over Kuan Beng Hong, a replacement for Wong Choong Hann who injured his right achilles tendon Wednesday.

Denmark have never won the Thomas Cup before, having finished runners-up seven times, including their loss to China in the 2004 final.