Indonesia shines in School C'ships finals

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's boys' and girls' tennis teams reached the finals of the first Asian School Championships at the Senayan tennis complex on Wednesday.

In the girls' team event, Indonesian second singles Angelique Wijaya gave her team the ideal opening by topping Malaysia's Jane Fong Sheau Ching 6-0, 6-0.

Teammate Frederika Girsang followed with a 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of Cheong A Mee. In the dead rubber doubles match, Indonesia's pairing of Mudarwati and Novianti Warsono completed the sweep with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Leong Wai Meng and Cheong A Mee.

Coach Yosafat Sihombing is extremely pleased with his athletes' performance in the championships, which is being participated in by seven countries who are competing for six gold medals.

"I just told them to keep going and force their opponents to run on the court. They were a bit nervous, but that happens all the time, even to veteran players. I just told them to enjoy the match," he said.

In the girls' team finals on Thursday, Indonesia will face Thailand, which defeated India 2-1 in the semifinals. Thailand's Cattaleeya Weserat beat Deepa Chakrabarty 6-0, 6-2, teammate Chattida Thimjapo beat Harsimran Kaur 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), while the Indian doubles team of Kaur and Vishika Chhetri topped Karamontree and Siriluethaiwattana 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Yosafat said he was optimistic his team could triumph in the final.

"I'll try to get my athletes to take advantage of the clay court, which the Thais seem unfamiliar with. We have a chance; it all depends on our strategy," he said.

In the boys' team event, Indonesia's Irwan Radjab lost to Sunil Kumar of India 6-1, 3-6, 2-6. His teammate Ferza Gautama was able to tie the match 1-1 by eliminating Sarbrinder Singh 6- 3, 6-2.

In the deciding doubles match, Indonesia's pairing of Naharudin and Prima Simpatiaji were forced to work hard in beating Ashutosh Singh and Kumar 6-4, 7-5.

The boys' team final will pit Indonesia against Thailand, which defeated Malaysia 3-0 in its semifinal matchup.

Thailand's Tientavi Promjamrat defeated Mohammad Azraai Tajuddin 6-2, 6-1, while Pacharapol Khamsaman topped Mohammad Nazreen Fuzi 6-3, 6-4. Thailand's doubles team of Sornsakol Supakit and Tara Tanthasuwanlert had to expend all their energy in overcoming Ahmad Shafiq and Zachary Tan Tze Xiong 2-6, 6-4, 6- 4. (yan)