Sudirman Cup: World champion Kento Momota's Japan faces defeat at the hands of China

Shi Yuqi stunned world champion Kento Momota as hosts China whitewashed Japan for an 11th Sudirman Cup title on Sunday.

Japan have never won the badminton world mixed-team championship and their search goes on after they were well beaten 3-0 in the Chinese city of Nanning.

Shi Yuqi completes stunning comeback over World No.1 Kento Momota to clinch China  three-game sweep of Japan  in TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup Finals

#TOTALBWFSC2019 #Nanning2019 pic.twitter.com/NwtJ5lxNef

— BWF (@bwfmedia) May 26, 2019

China's dominant victory over the top seeds is an ominous indication of the depth they possess in their ranks with next summer's Tokyo Olympics on the horizon.

Roared on by the home crowd, China went 1-0 up through their men's doubles and then took a 2-0 lead after a captivating women's singles match between Chen Yufei and Akane Yamaguchi.

Japan needed their talisman Momota to beat Shi in the men's singles to keep the tie alive.

The world number one had defeated second-ranked Shi four times in five previous meetings, including last year's world championship final.

It looked like more of the same when the 24-year-old Momota won the first game 21-15, but Shi suddenly found the rhythm and his subdued Japanese rival faded spectacularly.

THE MAN WHO DEFIES ALL THE ODDS

THE MAN WHO ENSURES CHINA TO WIN #SudirmanCup2019

THE MAN WHO BEAT KENTO MOMOTA IN TEAM COMPETITION (excl. junior) FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

THE MAN IS SHI YUQI pic.twitter.com/Be0erOsxaF

— Badminton Talk (@BadmintonTalk) May 26, 2019

The 23-year-old Shi raced to the second game 21-5 and took that searing momentum into the decider, winning the third game -- and with it the Sudirman Cup -- 21-11.

Shi sealed the championship with a smash and was mobbed by his team-mates, who raced onto the court after his surprise win.

China, the long-time pre-eminent power in badminton, reclaim the trophy that they lost to South Korea two years ago.