Indonesia gets mixed results in junior tennis<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Local junior tennis players had mixed fortunes
\nat the World Championship Asia\/Oceania qualifying tournament
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The boys team marked the first time they have qualified for
\nthe world championships with a 2-1 defeat of Hong Kong. However,
\nthe girls' team lost 2-1 to Chinese Taipei in the Group One top-
\nof-the-table clash.<\/p>\n
The defeat did not end the girls' hopes of qualifying for the
\nWorld Championships, to be held in Nagoya, Japan, in three months
\ntime. They will still qualify if they can beat Australia in a
\nmatch between the runners-up from Group One and Group Two today.
\nAustralia lost 2-1 to Thailand in the final Group Two match.<\/p>\n
Naharuddin was again the toast of the Indonesian boys' squad.
\nHe scored an important win, overcoming Cheuk Wai \"Jack\" Hui 7-5,
\n6-0 in the opening singles match. Later in the day he formed a
\nsolid partnership with Eko Kurniawan in a nerve-wracking and
\ndecisive doubles. The Indonesian duo won 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 after an
\nenergy-sapping match.<\/p>\n
Hong Kong had earlier leveled the match when Hiu Tung Yu
\ndefeated Eko 6-1, 7-6 (8-6). It was the indonesian's third defeat
\nin as many matches.<\/p>\n
The boys now meet Chinese Taipei, a 2-1 winner over India in
\nyesterday's other semifinal, for the tournament's top spot today.<\/p>\n
Deddy Prasetyo, the non-playing captain, said he was
\noptimistic that his side could clear the final hurdle.<\/p>\n
\"Technically we're better than the Taipei team, although
\nnobody can guarantee we will triumph. A tennis ball is round and
\ncan be hit anywhere, depending on who hits it harder,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's previous best performance in the regional
\nqualifying tournament was fifth place, achieved last year.<\/p>\n
\"To win or come second makes no difference provided we are
\ngiven plenty chances to play before the Japanese trip,\" Deddy
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In the girls' event, Hsiao Han Chao of Chinese Taipei
\noutlasted Indonesia's Novianti Warsono 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the
\nopening singles match.<\/p>\n
Angelique Widjaja avoided an early defeat for the team when
\nshe struggled to a 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 win over Su Wei Hsieh. The world
\nchampionship veteran has not lost a match since the qualifying
\ntournament began on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
However, the Chinese Taipei duo of Su and Hsiao overpowered
\ntheir Indonesian opponents, Angelique and Novianti, 6-1, 7-5 in
\nthe deciding doubles.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's non-playing captain Alfred Raturandang had to
\nconsole Angelique and Novianti's mothers, who broke tears
\nfollowing their daughters' loss.<\/p>\n
Alfred told reporters his team had failed to match their
\nopponents' in the deciding doubles.<\/p>\n
But he was upbeat about his squad's chances of grabbing the
\nlast berth to Nagoya today. \"We can make it. We will play better
\ntomorrow because we know Australia has good singles and doubles
\nplayers,\" he said. (emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-gets-mixed-results-in-junior-tennis-1447893297",
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