Indonesia shines in School C'ships finals
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)