Indonesia set to win Davis Cup zone title<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The national men's tennis team will be seeking a
\nvictory in its Davis Cup Asia Oceania second play-off in China
\nnext week, not only to escape relegation but to keep alive its
\nhopes of playing in the Bangkok Asian Games in December.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the Indonesian Tennis Association, Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja, was upbeat on Friday of his team's chances to
\nclear the Chinese wall in the match to be played at the Li Shan
\nTennis Club in Yan Ji from Sept. 25 to Sept. 27.<\/p>\n
\"On paper, you can beat the Chinese because you have better
\nworld rankings than them. You have something to prove if you want
\nto compete at the Asiad,\" he told the players, who leave for
\nChina on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will be banking on Andrian Raturandang (No. 499th on
\nthe ATP computer) and Febi Widhiyanto (1,056) in the singles.
\nBonit Wiryawan (1,118) and Sulistyo Wibowo (1,195) will team up
\nin the doubles.<\/p>\n
China will field Zhang Yu (822), Wang Yu-wei (882), Zheng Yu
\nLi (1,048) and Li Si (1,071) in the crucial tie.<\/p>\n
The loser will be relegated from the Asia\/Oceania group of
\neight elite teams.<\/p>\n
Indonesia lost to Lebanon 2-3 in the first playoff in July in
\nBeirut, while China crashed to South Korea 1-4.<\/p>\n
Indonesia and China last met in the 1996 Davis Cup first round
\nhere, when China posted a 5-0 drubbing.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said that except for the less experienced Feby, the
\nIndonesian players had great chances to win their respective
\nmatches.<\/p>\n
\"If they lose, there will be a big problem which could disturb
\nour preparations for the Asiad,\" Sarwono said.<\/p>\n
The National Sports Council will only send the tennis squad to
\nBangkok if it beats China. Women's singles world number 39 Yayuk
\nBasuki is the only tennis player to have secured a place in the
\nnational team for the Asiad.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said an Asian Games gold medal either from the men's
\ndoubles, women's team, women's doubles and mixed doubles looked
\nrealistic.<\/p>\n
\"We must keep up our tradition of winning Asiad gold,\" he
\nsaid. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-set-to-win-davis-cup-zone-title-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}