Germans to aim shots at RI's singles

Germans to aim shots at RI's singles

Zakki P. Hakim and Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post

The German women's team looks to exploit what it sees as the
weakness of its Indonesian opponent when the two meet in the
playoff here on Tuesday.

German team manager Martin Kranitz said, after observing the
match between Indonesia and the Netherlands in their Group W
match, his team was looking to take points from the host singles
trio.

"They lost all the singles (on Sunday), and they are really a
young team," he said.

Germany's No. 1 player Xu Huaiwen said that she was optimistic
of winning Tuesday's match. She said she was not worried about
playing in front of thousands of home fans.

More local fans are predicted to flock to the Bung Karno
Indoor Stadium to give support to the women's team.

"I am very positive about tomorrow. I enjoy playing in such an
atmosphere. After all, there is no point in playing with no one
watching," she said.

Xu said the team would also have big hopes in doubles
teammates Juliane Schenk and Nicole Grether, who displayed
excellence in the European qualification match last month.

Assuming the Germans would play the same line-up as in their
match against Chinese Taipei, Indonesian singles coach Ivana Lie
said that her singles trio had the chance to steal two points
from the German singles.

Ivana admitted that Silvi Antarini might encounter
difficulties in facing Xu in the first singles, given that Xu has
very good agility while Silvi has had to play three games twice,
which might affect her stamina.

"Like it or not, the two matches will surely affect Silvi's
play on Tuesday," Ivana said while observing the match between
Germany and Chinese Taipei on Monday.

She added that Indonesia, however, had the advantage of one
day's rest compared to the Germans.

Ivana said, however, Maria Kristin and Adrianti Firdasari had
a good chance of beating German's second and third singles,
Juliane Schenk and Nicole Grether.

"The two German singles' level is below the Netherlands'," she
said.

Despite the defeats, Silvi, Maria and Firdasari have been
considered to be improving their play.

"They were playing above their usual level on Sunday, and I
believe they will put in a tight match against the Germans," she
said.

Doubles coach Paulus Firman said he preferred to meet the
Germans rather than Chinese Taipei, as in his observation the
German doubles were on a level with the Indonesians, therefore Jo
Novita, Lita Nurlita, Gresya Polii and Lyliana Natsir had a
better chance of winning.

Team manager Christian Hadinata said the Indonesian girls had
done their best after being beaten 2-3 by the Dutch women on
Sunday.

"We were just not lucky, and less experienced. The shuttlers
need more experience. Hopefully, this match will teach them a
good lessons for their next match," he said.

Indonesia fielded mostly young shuttlers without much
international exposure both in the individual and team events.

Only Jo Novita and Eny Erlangga played in the 2002 Uber Cup in
Guangzhou, China, while Maria Kristin took part in the 2003 mixed
team Sudirman Cup in Eindhoven in the Netherlands.

While losing to China is understandable, kneeling before the
Dutch women is regrettable as the Indonesian girls had a chance
to win. In many games they initially led but were unable to
overcome the jinx.

"It is a matter of stress management and match-experience
problems," said women's singles coach Ivana Lie.

In Guangzhou, a much stronger Indonesian team was also
defeated by the Dutch thanks to Indonesian-born, world no. 4 Mia
Audina Tjiptawan. This time around, Mia is absent but Chinese-
born, world no. 10 Yao Jie is still an opponent to beat.

"I hope our shuttlers can do much better in the last
match," said Christian.