China to meet Denmark in final

After some early losses, Indonesian's Uber and Thomas Cup teams will have to fight their way through the play-offs if they hope to make the knockout rounds of the championships now taking place at the Bung Karno Indoor Stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta. The Jakarta Post talked to several people to get their opinion on how our shuttlers are performing.

Achmad Zaini, 30, is a news reporter for Elshinta radio. He lives in South Jakarta:

I don't feel really enthusiastic about the Thomas and Uber Cup championships because I'm sure Indonesia will not to do much in either event, particularly the Uber Cup.

As for the Thomas Cup, I still expect our team to win, depending on how hard Taufik (Hidayat) and friends fight for it.

My favorite this year is Denmark, not because I don't love my country. I think Danish shuttler Peter Gade Christensen is one of the best in the world.

My prediction for the Thomas Cup finals is a tight match between China and Denmark. While for the Uber Cup finals, defending champion China will be challenged by South Korea.

Savitri, 37, is a housewife. She lives in Jatiasih, Bekasi, with her husband and daughter:

I don't know anything about the competition. I don't really like sports. My husband does, though. He plays badminton and has won several tournaments in our housing complex and also at his office.

The only badminton players familiar to me are Rudy Hartono and Liem Swie King, but they're already retired, right? I don't think today's shuttlers are as good as them. I think many of our players did not put up much of a fight against China.

I am not really following this year's Thomas and Uber Cups, but I remember my husband saying that it would be hard for Indonesia to win because our players don't have the skill or experience.

-- The Jakarta Post