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."