Chinese, Danes poised for cup history<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa and Zakki P. Hakim, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Sunday's Thomas Cup final is likely to provide yet another
\nentertaining encounter when favorite China will be challenged by
\nEurope's best team Denmark.<\/p>\n
Whichever team wins the encounter will be crowned the new
\nchampion after Indonesia, which had held the trophy since 1994,
\ncrashed out in the semifinals on Friday.<\/p>\n
It would be China's first in 14 years after it last won the
\ncoveted trophy in 1990 by beating Malaysia 4-1 in the final in
\nTokyo.<\/p>\n
For Denmark, it would make it the first non-Asian country to
\never win the biennial men's team badminton championship since it
\nwas contested in 1949.<\/p>\n
After securing the final berth with a 3-2 win over Indonesia,
\nDenmark was realistic about its chances against China, which has
\nnot lost a single game en route to the final.<\/p>\n
\"We will be realistic in facing strong and favorite China. But
\nwe will give them pressure, and hopefully we can grab the
\nvictory,\" said Denmark's team manager Flemming Wiberg.<\/p>\n
Denmark's ace Peter Gade, who was beaten by Sony Dwi Kuncoro
\non Friday, expressed his optimism in the game against China.<\/p>\n
\"We have never won the Thomas Cup. I hope we can make
\nhistory,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Denmark has failed in each of its six final matches, the last
\nbeing in Hong Kong in 1996 when it was drubbed 5-0 by Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Against China, and its lineup featuring the world's best
\nsingles shuttlers Lin Dan, Chen Hong, Bao Chunlai and Xia Xuanze,
\nthe Danish team of Peter Gade, Kenneth Jonassen, Anders Boesen
\nand former world champion Peter Rasmussen will face a formidable
\ntask.<\/p>\n
Lin has won four over Gade in their five matches. Gade also
\ntrailed 1-2 against Bao Chunlai, but the Dane had a commanding
\nhead-to-head record over Chen at 6-1.<\/p>\n
In general, the Chinese have better head-to-head records over
\nthe Danes.<\/p>\n
However, the Danish team could rely on doubles world champions
\nLars Paaske and Jonas Rasmussen, and pair Jens Eriksen and Martin
\nLundgaard Hansen, ranked fifth in the world.<\/p>\n
They boast a better record over number two Fu Haifeng and Cai
\nYun and number six Sang Yang and Zheng Bo.<\/p>",
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