China downs Indonesia in Sudirman Cup

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia crashed out of the Sudirman Cup international team badminton championship after losing 2-3 against China in Glasgow yesterday.

Indonesia had pulled back the score to 2-2, but there was little chance to start with for Eliza/Zelin to stop the formidable women's double Olympic gold medalists Ge Fei/Gu Jun in the Chinese march towards the final.

Eliza and Zelin lost the match 3-15 3-15.

In today's final, China will meet the winner of the other semifinal match that was played later last night between Denmark and title holder South Korea.

Susi Susanti, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist, and the Indonesian men's doubles of Chandra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto had earlier sustained Indonesia's hopes of a final berth, each time pulling the score back to level.

Flandy Limpele/Minarti Timur in the mixed doubles and Ardy B. Wiranata in the men's singles were the other two let downs.

It was a big struggle for Susi, who was forced to stretch all over the court to beat her Chinese nemesis Ye Zhaoying in three sets with 6-11, 11-6, 11-0.

Susi began the match shakingly, giving away the first set. In the second, Susi trailed 1-2 before she found her form and crawled her way back. The two fought long and fast rallies for every point, but Susi broke away at 6-5 to the clinch the set.

In the decider, Ye was clearly a spent force and Susi breezed through the set to win the match.

Ardy, who followed immediately in the men's singles, proved a big disappointment, losing tamely to Dong Jiong.

In the first set, Ardy gave everything he had to overcome Dong, clearly a strategic mistake that took away his stamina.

Dong, the 1996 Olympic silver medalist, seized the initiative against a tired Ardy and with his impeccable timing and cross court smashes, he finished the first set in 20 minutes.

Ardy briefly recovered in the second set, even leading at one time with 6-5. Age proved a telling factor as Dong, four years younger than 27-year old Ardy, forced the game into tiring long rallies and clinched the set and match 15-8.

Chandra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto sent perfect smashes and drives to justify their number one rank in the men's doubles as they beat Sun Jun/Liu Yong 15-8, 15-6.

But their victory proved academical because the Indonesian team lost the overall match to China. (yan)

Results

China beat Indonesia 3-2: Ge Fei/Liu Yong bt Flandy Limpele/Minarti Timur 18-15, 15-13; Ye Zhaoying lost to Susi Susanti 11-6 6-11 0-11; Dong Jiong bt Ardy B Wiranata 15-2 15-8; Sun Jun/Liu Yong lost to Chandra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto 8-15 6-15; Ge Fei/Gu Jun bt Eliza/Zelin 15- 3 15-3.