Suwandi not fit, slimming RI Davis Cup chances<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): With doubts hanging over main singles player
\nSuwandi's fitness, the Indonesian tennis team's chances in the
\nAsia-Oceania relegation play-off match against China look slim.<\/p>\n
The tie, to be played at the Kemayoran tennis complex, begins
\non Friday, with Peter Handoyo drawn to take on Yu Zhang in the
\nfirst singles. Suwandi will be up against Zu Beng Qiang. The
\nvisiting team is led by Ma Ke-Qin.<\/p>\n
\"But I doubt if he (Suwandi) will be fit in time. And with him
\nbeing in such a condition, I'm very pessimistic about the team's
\nchances,\" Benny Mailili, a tennis official, told The Jakarta Post
\nhere on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Suwandi is still nursing an abdominal injury he suffered in
\nthe men's singles final match at the Southeast Asian Games in
\nKuala Lumpur over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Benny said Suwandi was the player on whom the country's hopes
\nwere resting.<\/p>\n
\"We can't expect much from Peter. He hasn't enough tournament
\nexperience,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Benny also lamented the fact that the team had to enter the
\ncompetition with only four days rest after their Kuala Lumpur
\nouting.<\/p>\n
\"They've hardly been able to get their breath back after their
\nearlier matches as they've had to start preparations again soon
\nafter they arrived back here,\" said Benny, who is also the public
\nrelations officer of the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti).<\/p>\n
Pelti officials, Benny said, appeared to be indifferent about
\nthe hectic schedule for the Indonesian team.<\/p>\n
\"I was very concerned about the schedule and suggested that
\nthe officials propose to the ITF (International Tennis
\nFederation) that the dates be rescheduled.<\/p>\n
\"In my opinion, we should have had at least a one-week break
\nbetween matches,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia suffered a 5-0 drubbing by China in their last
\nencounter in 1996 event.<\/p>\n
Now they have to play again after each were beaten twice in
\ntheir most recent ties. Indonesia was beaten 2-3 by Uzbekistan in
\nJakarta last February and 1-4 by South Korea in Seoul in July.<\/p>\n
China's defeats were at the hands of India 3-2 and Thailand 5-
\n0.<\/p>\n
The winner of the three-day competition will stay in the Asia
\nOceania group which is currently incorporates Japan, New Zealand,
\nIndia, Thailand, Korea and Uzbekistan. The loser will be
\nrelegated to group two.<\/p>\n
Order of play (Indonesia named first):<\/p>\n
Friday
\n Peter Handoyo vs Yu Zhang (10.30 a.m.)
\n Suwandi vs Zu Beng Qiang<\/p>\n
Saturday
\n Bonit Wiryawan\/Sulistyo Wibowo vs Yang Zhing Zu\/Li Si (11 a.m.)<\/p>\n
Sunday
\n Suwandi vs Yu Zhang (10.30 a.m.)
\n Peter Handoyo vs Zu Beng Qiang<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/suwandi-not-fit-slimming-ri-davis-cup-chances-1447893297",
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