5-0 loss does not bar RI shuttlers from semis

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Being battered 5-0 by South Korea did not stop the Indonesian badminton team from cruising to the semifinals stage of the women's team Uber Cup qualifying round in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday.

After scoring two victories against host Australia on Wednesday and Thailand on Thursday in Group B, the Indonesian girls swallowed a bitter pill with such a humiliating score.

Newcomer Jun Jae-youn began the slaughter by defeating Indonesia's number one, Lidya Djaelawijaya 7-2, 7-4, 8-6 in just 28 minutes, as reported by www.worldbbadminton.net.

Meanwhile, old hands Ra Kyung-min and Lee Kyung-won blasted their younger opponents, Jo Novita and Eny Erlangga, 7-4, 7-2, 7- 1 in 27 minutes to extend the 2-0 lead.

Indonesia seemed to be able to reduce the gap, and opened its chance to win after Atu Rosalina managed to hold Seo Yoon-hee in the third match, 3-7, 7-5, 7-5.

Seo, however, took the two remaining games 7-1, 7-3, sealing South Korea's 3-0 victory within a total of 50 minutes.

In the remaining indecisive two matches, Vita Marissa and Emma Ermawati failed to take full advantage of their 8-7, 7-3 lead against Lee Hyo-jung and Hwang Yu-mi.

The South Koreans got their second wind to win the next three games 7-1, 7-2, 7-2, extending South Korea's victory to 4-0.

Young shuttler Dian Novita Sari was too weak to prevent a total loss, after falling 5-7, 2-7, 2-7 to Kim Kyeung-ran.

South Korea tops Group B with three victories, while Indonesia is second with two wins, and one loss from three matches.

South Korea will then face Group A's runner-up, Japan, and Indonesia is slated to meet Hong Kong on Saturday.

All four countries have already secured their berth in the Uber Cup final rounds in Guangzhou, China from May 9 until May 19. Host China is also the defending champion and gets an automatic berth.

Whatever then results from Saturday's semifinals and Sunday's final knock out matches, they will not ruin the four countries' eligibility.

They will, however, decide the seeding for the final round in May.

Three other countries are decided in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

Powered by Sydney 2000 Olympics silver medalist Camilla Martin, Denmark is the heavy favorite to get a berth for Guangzhou.

Two other seats may provide lively matches as England and Sweden would not let their long badminton tradition wash away.

Meanwhile in the men's team Thomas Cup, South Korea faces Japan, while Malaysia meets Thailand.

Indonesia gets an automatic qualification as the defending champion. Both Thomas and Uber Cups are held simultaneously at Guangzhou's Tianhe Sports Center.