RI hopes for Danish showdown in Sudirman semifinals<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
If all goes according to plan and it makes the final four, the
\nnational badminton team believes it will stand more of a chance
\nagainst Denmark than holders South Korea in the 2005 Sudirman Cup
\nin Beijing.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is in Group B of the mixed team championship with
\nhost and overwhelming favorite China, Hong Kong and Sweden, while
\nKorea is with Denmark, England and Thailand in Group A.<\/p>\n
The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals of
\nthe event, to be held from May 10-15, with the winners of each
\ngroup playing the runners-up.<\/p>\n
The event operates on a best-of-five match format for each
\ntie, consisting of one men's singles, one men's doubles, a
\nwomen's singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles.<\/p>\n
Men's singles coach Joko Suprianto said on Monday the team's
\nrelatively weak women's team could still take matches against the
\nDanes, especially with last year's retirement of former world and
\nAll-England champion Camilla Martin.<\/p>\n
\"Denmark has problems among its women's shuttlers. If we meet
\nthem in the semifinal, our women shuttlers could steal points
\nfrom them, thus easing the task for the men,\" he said during a
\nbreak in a practice session at the National Badminton Training
\nCenter in Cipayung, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Korea would be a much more difficult proposition for the women
\nplayers, he added.<\/p>\n
\"Let alone the fact that the former best mixed doubles pair in
\nthe world, Kim Dong Moon\/Ra Kyung Min, who is still hard to beat,
\nwill come back to play for Korea.\"<\/p>\n
Women's doubles coach Atik Djauhari and mixed doubles coach
\nRichard Mainaky concurred with Joko.<\/p>\n
Atik said Indonesia, which won the title in its inaugural year
\nin 1989, was almost certain to reach the semis, because it was
\nstronger than Sweden and Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
\"So, rather than thinking about a match against China in our
\ngroup, it is better for us to concentrate on our match in the
\nsemifinal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"In my view, we will have better chance to win if we meet
\nDenmark rather than Korea in semifinal as Denmark is currently
\nweak among its women shuttlers.\"<\/p>\n
Richard said the unexpected return of Kim\/Ra changed the
\nexpectations of all teams.<\/p>\n
\"It will be hard for other pairs, including from Indonesia, to
\nbeat them,\" he said. \"Our chance is better if we meet Denmark.\"<\/p>\n
The coaches said training was continuing uninterrupted despite
\nthe sudden resignation in mid-April of Sudirman Cup coach Icuk
\nSugiarto following a dispute with the Badminton Association of
\nIndonesia (PBSI).<\/p>\n
However, men's doubles coach Christian Hadinata warned the
\nteam not to assume it was assured a semifinal spot.<\/p>\n
\"Remember that we have to beat Hong Kong, which is strong in
\nwomen's singles with Wang Chen and men's singles with Agus
\nHariyanto, and Sweden in group matches to reach the semifinal.\"<\/p>",
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