Indonesia to face NZ in Fed Cup opener<\/p>\n
OSAKA, Japan (Agencies): Indonesia is scheduled to face New
\nZealand in the opening day of the preliminary round-robin of the
\nFed Cup tennis Asia Oceania Group One on the outdoor hard courts
\nat the Utsubo Tennis Center here starting on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Nonplaying captain Suzanna Arianto Wibowo said in a release on
\nMonday that Indonesia had a better quality team than New Zealand
\nand Singapore.<\/p>\n
\"We are glad to be in pool B because there are two countries
\n-- New Zealand and Singapore -- which are not as good as us.\"<\/p>\n
Team manager Martina Wijaya said: \"We must win in pool B to be
\nable to reach the final. Of course, we will face tough a
\nchallenge from China and Chinese Taipei but they have similar
\nstrength to us. The most important thing is our players will have
\nto work hard to reach our goal.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesia is fielding world-ranked 169 Wynne Prakusya, Irawati
\nMoerid Iskandar (542), Wukirasih Sawondari (547) and Yayuk
\nBasuki, who aims to make a comeback to be able to compete in the
\nOlympic Games in Sydney in September.<\/p>\n
While New Zealand will play Leanne Baker (326), Rewa Hudson
\n(374), Shelley Stephens (392) and Niki Ippins (468).<\/p>\n
\"I'm glad we are in group B. I think all rivals are tough and
\nwe must be prepared for each match. We must focus our attention
\non one match after another. We really have to work hard to win in
\nthe group,\" said Yayuk, who reached a world ranking of 21 in mid-
\n1998.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is in pool B with China, which is spearheaded by Li
\nFang and Yi Jingqian, Chinese Taipei, which is led by Wang Shi-
\nting and Janet Lee, Singapore, New Zealand and South Korea. Pool
\nA consists of Japan, Thailand, India, Hong Kong and Kazakhstan.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will face South Korea on Wednesday, challenge China
\nThursday, meet Chinese Taipei on Friday and see Singapore on
\nSaturday. The top-placed teams from each pool will compete in a
\nplayoff on Sunday for a place in the world group next season.<\/p>\n
AFP reported top-seeded Japan, led by Ai Sugiyama, would take
\non fourth-seeded Thailand, led by Tamarine Tanasugarn.<\/p>\n
Japanese team captain Takeshi Koura expressed relief at having
\navoided China, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"It would have been tough to play them, but all of them were
\ndrawn in the other pool. Tamarine Tanasugarn is our only big
\nrival. My players have never lost to other Thai players.\"<\/p>\n
\"If we can move into top gear toward Saturday and Sunday, I'm
\nsure we will win. Hopefully, we can start the 21st century in the
\nWorld Group,\" Koura added.<\/p>\n
The countries which finish last in the two pools will be
\nrelegated to Group Two next year.<\/p>\n
In Group Two this year, Uzbekistan was seeded number one and
\nwill face Iraq, Malaysia, Pacific Oceania and Fiji in pool A. The
\nPhilippines was seeded second and will compete against Sri Lanka,
\nSyria, Jordan, Tajikistan and Pakistan in pool B.<\/p>\n
The top two teams from each pool will advance to a playoff
\nround and two countries will be promoted to Group One next year.
\n(yan)<\/p>\n
Order of play<\/p>\n
Group One<\/p>\n
April 25: pool A - Tha vs Ind, Kaz vs Hkg, pool B - Chn vs Kor,
\nIna vs Nzl, Tpe vs Sin<\/p>\n
April 26: Jpn vs Ind, Kaz vs Tha, Chn vs Sin, Nzl vs Tpe, Ina vs
\nKor<\/p>\n
April 27: Jpn vs Hkg, Ind vs Kaz, Chn vs Ina, Sin vs Nzl, Kor vs
\nTpe<\/p>\n
April 28: Jpn vs Kaz, Tha vs Hkg, Chn vs Nzl, Ina vs Tpe, Sin vs
\nKor<\/p>\n
April 29: Jpn vs Tha, Ind vs Hkg, Chn vs Tpe, Sin vs Ina, Nzl vs
\nkor<\/p>\n
April 30: pool A winners vs pool B winners<\/p>\n
Group Two<\/p>\n
April 25: pool A - Uzb vs Pacific Oceania, Mas vs Fij, pool B -
\nPhi vs Jor, Syr vs Tad, Sri vs Pak<\/p>\n
April 26: Pacific Oceania vs Fij, Irq vs Mas, Phi vs Pak, Jor vs
\nTad, Sri vs Syr<\/p>\n
April 27: Uzb vs Fij, Irq vs Pacific Oceania, Phi vs Tad, Sri vs
\nJor, Syr vs Pak<\/p>\n
April 28: Mas vs Uzb, Fij vs Irq, Phi vs Syr, Sri vs Tad, Jor vs
\nPak<\/p>\n
April 29: Uzb vs Irq, Mas vs Pacific Oceania, Phi vs Sri, Syr vs
\nJor, Tad vs Pak<\/p>\n
April 30: pool A first vs pool B second, pool B first vs pool A
\nsecond<\/p>",
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