HK shokcs RI with 3-2 win in Uber Cup heat
HK shokcs RI with 3-2 win in Uber Cup heat
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Guangzhou, China
Indonesia was stunned 2-3 by Hong Kong in the opening day of
Badminton's Uber Cup on Thursday in the southern Chinese city of
Guangzhou, while China swept past Sweden in the Thomas Cup event.
Indonesia trailed 2-0 after the first two singles ties.
Lidya Djaelawijaya won the first set in her game against Wang
Chen, but conceded the following three sets for a 7-5, 2-7, 4-7,
2-7 loss.
Ellen Angelina was also outstanding in the opening set before
going down 7-2, 5-7, 7-8, 1-7 to Wang Ting Ling.
Indonesia fought back in the following two ties. Yuli Marfuah
pulled off a winning performance, beating Chee Louisa Koon 8-6,
8-7, 7-4
Deyana Lomban/Vita Marisa evened the score at 2-2, brushing
aside Wing Mui Li/Wan Ing Ling 7-1, 7-2, 7-4, to turn the tie
into a daunting battle.
However, Enny Erlangga/Jo Novita failed to salvage Indonesia's
pride. They fought hard only but eventually lost out 8-6, 2-7, 8-
6, 3-7, 4-7 to Wai Chee Louisa Koon/Wang Chendi.
The Indonesian team then appeared to underrate its chances
with Chief de Mission Lufti Hamid saying that only a miracle
would be able to bring them through to the semifinals.
"Ellen should have won her game. I think she lacked motivation
and failed to concentrate during the play," he said after
watching his side's humiliating loss.
Ellen started triumphantly but she failed to hold on. She had
the chance to follow up with another win especially in the second
and third sets when she squandered a 5-0 lead on both occasions.
She somehow lost her concentration and let her opponent come
back and take the match.
Yuli and the pairing of Deyana Lomban/Vita Marisa threw a
lifeline to Indonesia before its fate was finally sealed in the
second battle of the doubles.
Enny Erlangga/Jo Novita played inconsistently against their
opponents, with Jo being the villain of pair.
Jo appeared to be hasty, particularly in the attacks, which
resulted in her ball either going out or flopping into the net.
The bitter loss was a repeat of the poor performance by
Indonesia against the same team after another setback in the
qualifying stage in Melbourne, Australia.
In the other matches, the Netherlands, spearheaded by former
Indonesian player Mia Audina, also sprang a surprise by beating
fellow Europeans Denmark 3-2.
Meanwhile, Xia Xuanze led China to an easy 5-0 win over Sweden
in the Thomas Cup competition
China's Lin Dan, Zhang Jun and Zhang Wei also turned in strong
performances in their team's quick victory; the first three games
were finished in just 20 minutes. South Korea was to play Denmark
later Thursday in Thomas Cup play.
Xia, also the Asian men's champion, had little difficulty with
Sweden's Rasmus Wengberg, posting a quick 7-0, 7-2, 7-2 victory
in less than 15 minutes. Zhang Jun and Zhang Wei powered past
Johan Holm and Joakim Andersson 3-0 (7-3, 7-3, 7-1), while world
No. 2 Lin Dan routed Daniel Eriksson 7-2, 8-7, 7-4.
Cheng Rui and Wang Wei gave up China's only loss of the
evening before they knocked off Henrik Andersson/Frederik
Bergstrom 7-1, 7- 0, 3-7, 7-3. Luo Yigang defeated Per-Henrik
Croona 7-3, 7-4, 7-4.