Holland, Germany vie for semis in Uber Cup<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Netherlands and Germany, which are both under the shadow
\nof successful fellow European team, Denmark, have set themselves
\nthe target of taking a place in the semifinals of the Uber Cup.<\/p>\n
The Netherlands arrived without its ace, European champion Mia
\nAudina, but the team's head coach, Martijn van Dooremalen, was
\nhopeful that Mia's absence would not affect the team.<\/p>\n
\"Two years ago in Guangzhou we managed to reach the
\nsemifinals. We expect the same this time, although Mia is not
\nwith us,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mia, who helped Indonesia win the Uber Cup in 1994 and won a
\nsilver medal at the Olympics in 1996 in Atlanta -- before
\nswitching her allegiance to the Netherlands -- was previously
\nreported to be on the team. Although, it was said, she would not
\nbe playing in the match against Indonesia.<\/p>\n
However, van Dooremalen confirmed on Wednesday Mia would not
\nbe playing at all, and Yao Jie would replace her as the teams's
\nnumber one singles player.<\/p>\n
According to Dooremalen, the Dutch badminton association had
\ndecided Mia should focus on the Olympics.<\/p>\n
\"We decided two months ago that she would not participate in
\nthis championship. She's tired and she needs rest because she
\njust finished with the European championships,\" Dooremalen said.<\/p>\n
He said there were four important tournaments this year, the
\nAll England, European Championships, Uber Cup and Olympic games.<\/p>\n
\"The Olympic games is the most important of the four, we're
\nonly aiming for the semifinals of the Uber Cup,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Netherlands will open its match against Indonesia on
\nSunday before taking on defending champion China on Monday.<\/p>\n
Unlike the Dutch, the Germans will compete in both the Thomas
\nCup and the Uber Cup. However, they were more confident about
\ntheir Uber prospects, saying they would be looking for a place in
\nthe final four.<\/p>\n
\"Our women's team is definitely stronger than the men's team.
\nWe are pretty confident we can reach the semifinals,\" team
\nmanager Martin Kranitz said, adding they were also upbeat about
\ntheir prospects against Indonesia, should the two teams meet in
\nthe semifinals.<\/p>\n
He said the men's team was setting its sights on the
\nquarterfinals.<\/p>\n
Germany's Thomas Cup team is placed in Group B with South
\nKorea and New Zealand, while the Uber Cup team, in Group X, with
\nChinese Taipei and South Africa.<\/p>\n
As South Africa is a newcomer to this championship, Germany's
\nUber Cup team should be able to overcome the first hurdle to
\nadvance to the next stage.<\/p>\n
Germany will rest its hopes on Xu Huaiwen, a former Chinese
\nplayer currently ranked 12th in the world, while Bjoern Joppien,
\nthe world's No. 21, will lead his male teammates in the Thomas
\nCup.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, China seems confident of winning both cups. China
\nis the Uber Cup holder, while it last won the Thomas Cup in 1988.<\/p>\n
Team manager Lee Yong Bo said he was optimistic China would be
\nable to retain the Uber Cup and wrestle the Thomas Cup from
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
With the world's top players in both categories, China is a
\nstrong favorite in this tournament.<\/p>\n
Gong Ruina will lead China's female charge in the Uber Cup,
\nwhile her fellow world No. 1, Lin Dan, will spearhead the men's
\nteam.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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