Indonesia retains Uber Cup crown

Indonesia retains Uber Cup crown

By Arif Suryobuwono

HONG KONG (JP): The chant "Who owns badminton if not
Indonesia?" echoed around the packed Queen Elizabeth stadium as
the Indonesian second-string duo of Lili Tampi and Finarsih
sealed their side's victory over China in the Uber Cup final
yesterday.

Finarsih and Lili's 15-9, 15-10 win over Qin Yiyuan and Tang
Yongshu, who are ranked nine places above them, means that the
Cup remains safe in Indonesian hands, at least for another two
years.

Indonesia finally edged China 4-1 after Meulawati's 11-6, 11-2
rout of Zhang Ning, lengthening the 3-1 lead notched by Susi
Susanti's 4-11, 11-5, 11-5 victory over arch rival Ye Zhaoying;
Mia Audina's 11-4, 11-6 demolition of Wang Chen; and Lili
Tampi/Finarsih's edging of Qin Yiyuan and Tang Yong-shu.

The stadium was engulfed last night by the Indonesian national
anthem and patriotic songs sung by rows of fanatic Indonesian
supporters. The atmosphere in the stadium was every inch
Indonesian, as if Hong Kong didn't exist.

Lili Tampi, falling and weeping as Qin Yiyuan's shot kissed
the net, said the victory was crucial for her because it prepared
her for the Atlanta Olympic Games (July 19 to Aug. 4), which, she
said, would be her last appearance with Finarsih.

Lili, who has been paired with Finarsih since 1991, said she
had decided not to continue her women's doubles career but hinted
that she might still play in mixed doubles. "I wanted a sweet
farewell. Finarsih and I have already had too many losses lately.
I owe my victory to Susi," she said.

Susi, who again inspired her teammates as she did on Thursday
with her 11-7, 11-0 thrashing of South Korea's Bang Soo Hyun,
fell 11-4 to Ye in the first set because she was still in the
"adjustment" period.

In the second set, Susi said, the wind was with her and she
took the lead by playing fast and attack-minded, which she
continued until the third set. Susi's coach, Liang Chiu Sia, said
that perhaps Ye was shocked by Susi's sudden attacks.

The only point lost to China was the first doubles match.
China's world number one partnership of Ge Fei and Gu Jun was
stretched to a rubber set, but was still too strong for Eliza and
Zelin Rosiana. Ge and Gu defeated the Indonesian pair 7-15, 15-8,
15-12.

Ge Fei said she was, at first, greatly disturbed by the noisy
cheers and jeers screamed by the Indonesian supporters. "I was
very tense and nervous. That's why we lost the first set. But
gradually we got used to the noise."

Gu Jun also said that she was very nervous during the first
game because the game was going to be decisive for China. But
when Ge and Gu trailed 8-12 behind Eliza and Zelin, "we suddenly
lost our nervousness because we thought we were going to lose
anyway, so why be tense?" That was the turning point. Ge and Gu
crawled back to end the game 15-12.

China's coach Li Yong Bo attributed his team's loss to a loss
of spirits after Ye's defeat. Li said he knew Ye would lose but
expected to be able to crawl back through Ge and Gu, Wang,
Qin/Tang and Zhang.

As it turned out, such expectations were reduced to shambles
as the rest of the team no longer had its fighting spirit.

"With their spirits down, they were no longer able to play
normally," Li said. After the 4-1 defeat, the Chinese girls were
all tears, as was their coach Li Lingwei. China's team manager
Zhou Jincan's eyes were red, but he managed not to cry.

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman said the
government would certainly give the Uber Cup winners awards as a
token of appreciation. He could not yet mention what kind of
awards await them.

Mia Audina, who attributed her 11-4, 11-6 victory over Wang
Chen to patience and composure, said she was surprised to play
Wang instead of Hang Jingna. Mia said she was anxious to test her
ability after months of absence due to injury.

"I wanted to know whether I was still as good as I was before
the injury." Mia's knee was injured when she was taking on Wang
at 11-12, 8-10 in the World Grand Prix Finals on Dec. 1995. Wang
lost to Mia 12-10, 11-12, 10-12 in the All England Open 1995.

Mia's coach, Retno Kustiyah, said both Mia and Wang were of
the same type but since Wang is taller than Mia, Mia should not
let her be led into rally. This strategy worked. Mia pressed hard
on Wang, forcing her to always be on the receiving end. Retno
believes Mia's shattered confidence has now been recovered.

Thomas Cup -- Page 16