China changes lineup in hope of beating RI shuttlers

China changes lineup in hope of beating RI shuttlers

By Primastuti Handayani

KUALA LUMPUR (JP): China will change its line-up team to
enable its men's shuttlers to upset defending champion Indonesia
in the Thomas Cup championships' yellow group round-robin at the
Putra Indoor Stadium on Tuesday.

Head coach Li Yongbo said: "Although we have ensured a
semifinals ticket, we must beat Indonesia to win the group.
Therefore, we need to change our team line-up."

However, he declined to mention which players would sit on the
bench.

"I can only say that our players are going to give a good
fight to win all the matches because they really want to win the
cup."

China is likely to field Xia Xuanze in the first singles, Ji
Xinpeng in the second singles and Chen Hong in the last match.
While in the doubles, they are likely to field the same
shuttlers.

On the other hand, Indonesia remained silent about the team's
line-up, saying that it would all depend on the shuttlers
condition.

Deputy team manager Hadi Nazri said: "Our shuttlers must give
all their best efforts in order to win against China. However,
the position in the group is not very decisive to us."

"We have no intention to save our strength by resting our key
players on the bench. We want them to experience the tough
matches."

Head coach Christian Hadinata said that national shuttlers
would have to somehow manage to survive their toughest test
against China.

"I was not happy to see their performance in the first and
second matches against Sweden and England. They were not used to
coping in such a tense, critical situation. They must survive
this time."

Christian said he expected Indonesia would steal at least one
point from the doubles sector.

"Even though China wants to split their doubles, it won't give
them additional strength in the team."

Indonesia will field exactly the same singles -- Hendrawan,
Taufik Hidayat and Marlev Mainaky -- as fourth singles Hariyanto
Arbi still has an injured hamstring and has yet to gain
experience in the group's round-robin.

In the doubles, Indonesia has a chance to place Ricky Subagja
and Rexy Mainaky in the first doubles and a former partnership of
Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto in the second. Candra and Sigit
won the 1997 World Championships.

The blue group's round-robin match will see runner-up Malaysia
and Denmark fighting for a semifinal ticket following South
Korea.

Both countries lost one match and won one in the group.

Denmark is likely to field Peter Gade Christensen, Poul-Erik
Hoyer-Larsen and Anders Boesen in the singles.

Considering Kenneth Jonassen's poor form against South Korea
Saturday, Denmark should opt to field Boesen instead.

In the doubles, Martin Lundgaard Hansen and Lars Paaske will
play first, followed by Jens Eriksen and Jesper Larsen.

Malaysia is to field Wong Choong Hann, Ong Ewe Hock and Yong
Hock Kin in the singles.

Roslin Hashim injured his elbow on Saturday during a match
against Sidharth Jain of India.

The host will also rely on Lee Wan Wah and Choong Tan Fook in
the first doubles match and Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock in
the second doubles.

Malaysian team manager Mohamed Al Amin said: "Our players must
play in a do-or-die match against Denmark. Their first singles is
very strong but Danish second singles Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen was
unexpectedly beaten by Korean Lee Hyun-il and I hope our players
can do that."