Indonesia survives first test in Thomas and Uber Cup
Indonesia survives first test in Thomas and Uber Cup
By Primastuti Handayani
KUALA LUMPUR (JP): Indonesian teams won both matches in the
Thomas and Uber Cup championships at the Putra Indoor Stadium
here Thursday. The men's team had no trouble thrashing Sweden 5-0
while the women's team had to struggle before taming dark horse
Japan 3-2.
Men's singles ace, Hendrawan, world number two, opened his
team's victory by defeating Thomas Johansson 15-5, 17-14 in 32
minutes.
Starting the first game easily, Hendrawan started the second
game shakily. Both tied 7-7 in long rallies with close net work
from Hendrawan and hard smashes from Johansson.
Hendrawan narrowly led 14-13 before the towering Swede managed
to force a deuce. But Hendrawan -- rallying on a combination of
netting, offense and defense -- was able to grab the remaining
three points.
"The win was a good start but we still have a long journey to
repeat our last victory two years ago. I won easily in the first
game because Johansson had a problem controlling the court. But
in the second game it was a bit difficult as he changed his style
of play."
First doubles Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan, world number
one, barely sweated in their match against Par-Gunnar Jonsson and
Peter Axelsson to win 15-5, 15-1.
"We are committed to give our best in every match. We are
eager to contribute one point to the team."
Third singles Taufik Hidayat ensured the team's victory by
defeating Rasmus Wengberg 15-3, 15-9.
"As the team was leading 2-0, I was highly motivated to
contribute one point as we wanted to ensure a 5-0 whitewash.
Rasmus usually plays well with good defense. But today he played
under form."
The 1996 Olympics champion Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky gave
a free lesson to Henrik Andersson and Frederik Bergstrom winning
15-4, 15-3.
Marlev Mainaky completed Indonesia's triumph with an easy
triumph of 15-2, 15-4 over Martin Hagberg.
Team manager Sumaryono said: "We will play all out in every
match. We won't change the winning team as they still have time
to recover."
Sweden's team manager Claes Johansson said: "Indonesia is a
strong team as they are good in all sectors specially in the
doubles."
Humiliating
In the Uber Cup, Indonesia's first women's singles Lidya
Djaelawidjaja suffered a humiliating defeat to Yasuko Mizui 5-11,
5-11 in 29 minutes.
"Playing in the first match as the first singles really made
me nervous. I couldn't sleep last night. I didn't want to repeat
my poor form in the Uber Cup qualification in New Delhi but ...,"
she sighed. "I feel ashamed to my teammates."
First pair of Elysa Nathanael and Deyana Lomban tied 1-1 after
eliminating Yoshiko Iwata and Haruko Matsuda 15-8, 15-6 in a
tough 40 minute match.
"I was very tense as we were 0-1 behind. Moreover we lost to
them in the first round of the All England. When entering the
court, I just thought positively that I will have a better chance
here," Deyana said.
Second singles Ellen Angelina added one more point after
easily beating Takako Ida 11-1, 11-5.
Second doubles Etty Tantri and Cynthia Tuwankotta managed to
secure Indonesia's position in the group by overwhelming Chikako
Nakayama and Naomi Murakami 15-4, 15-13.
Coach Imelda Wigoeno said: "We had an advantage by the absence
of Japan's second singles Kanako Yonekura. Our key player is
Ellen, we really expected her to win."
Thomas Cup
Indonesia bt Sweden 5-0: Hendrawan bt Thomas Johansson 15-5,
17-14; Candra Wijaya/Tony Gunawan bt Par-Gunnar Jonsson/Peter
Axelsson 15-5, 15-1; Taufik Hidayat bt Rasmus Wengberg 15-3, 15-9;
Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky bt Henrik Andersson/Frederik Bergstrom
15-4, 15-3; Marlev Mainaky bt Martin Hagberg 15-2, 15-4
China bt England 4-1: Xia Xuanze bt Colin Haugton 15-2, 15-3;
Zhang Jun/Yu Jinhao lost to Nathan Robertson/Simon Archer 15-10,
16-17, 13-15; Ji Xinpeng bt Darren Hall 15-7, 15-10; Zhang Wei/Liu
Yong bt Chris Hunt/Julian Robertson 15-6, 15-8; Lou Yigang bt
Michael Edge 15-6, 15-7
Uber Cup
Indonesia bt Japan 3-2: Lidya Djaelawidjaja lost to Yasuko
Mizui 5-11, 4-11; Elysa Nathanael/Deyana Lomban bt Yoshiko
Iwata/Haruko Matsuda 15-8, 15-6; Ellen Angelina bt Takako Ida 11-1,
11-5; Etty Tantri/Cynthia Tuwankotta bt Chikako Nakayama/Naomi
Murakami 15-4, 15-13; Yuli Marfuah lost to Miho Tanaka 8-11, 7-11
Denmark bt Malaysia 4-1: Camilla Martin bt Ng Mee Fen 11-0, 11-4;
Helene Kirkegaard/Rikke Olsen bt Lim Pek Siah/Joanna SL Quay
15-9, 15-4; Mette Sorensen bt Wong Miew Kheng 11-9, 11-1;
Ann-Lou Jorgensen/Mette Schjoldager lost to Ang Li Peng/Chor Hoi
Yee 8-15, 1-15; Mette Pedersen bt Woon Sze Mei 11-3, 11-4