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.