Indonesia gets mixed results in junior tennis

JAKARTA (JP): Local junior tennis players had mixed fortunes at the World Championship Asia/Oceania qualifying tournament yesterday.

The boys team marked the first time they have qualified for the world championships with a 2-1 defeat of Hong Kong. However, the girls' team lost 2-1 to Chinese Taipei in the Group One top- of-the-table clash.

The defeat did not end the girls' hopes of qualifying for the World Championships, to be held in Nagoya, Japan, in three months time. They will still qualify if they can beat Australia in a match between the runners-up from Group One and Group Two today. Australia lost 2-1 to Thailand in the final Group Two match.

Naharuddin was again the toast of the Indonesian boys' squad. He scored an important win, overcoming Cheuk Wai "Jack" Hui 7-5, 6-0 in the opening singles match. Later in the day he formed a solid partnership with Eko Kurniawan in a nerve-wracking and decisive doubles. The Indonesian duo won 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 after an energy-sapping match.

Hong Kong had earlier leveled the match when Hiu Tung Yu defeated Eko 6-1, 7-6 (8-6). It was the indonesian's third defeat in as many matches.

The boys now meet Chinese Taipei, a 2-1 winner over India in yesterday's other semifinal, for the tournament's top spot today.

Deddy Prasetyo, the non-playing captain, said he was optimistic that his side could clear the final hurdle.

"Technically we're better than the Taipei team, although nobody can guarantee we will triumph. A tennis ball is round and can be hit anywhere, depending on who hits it harder," he said.

Indonesia's previous best performance in the regional qualifying tournament was fifth place, achieved last year.

"To win or come second makes no difference provided we are given plenty chances to play before the Japanese trip," Deddy said.

In the girls' event, Hsiao Han Chao of Chinese Taipei outlasted Indonesia's Novianti Warsono 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the opening singles match.

Angelique Widjaja avoided an early defeat for the team when she struggled to a 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 win over Su Wei Hsieh. The world championship veteran has not lost a match since the qualifying tournament began on Wednesday.

However, the Chinese Taipei duo of Su and Hsiao overpowered their Indonesian opponents, Angelique and Novianti, 6-1, 7-5 in the deciding doubles.

Indonesia's non-playing captain Alfred Raturandang had to console Angelique and Novianti's mothers, who broke tears following their daughters' loss.

Alfred told reporters his team had failed to match their opponents' in the deciding doubles.

But he was upbeat about his squad's chances of grabbing the last berth to Nagoya today. "We can make it. We will play better tomorrow because we know Australia has good singles and doubles players," he said. (emf)