Indonesia takes women's team tennis gold
Indonesia takes women's team tennis gold
KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Indonesia's women's tennis team
wasted no time in downing hosts Malaysia to take the gold medal
at the 21st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here on Tuesday.
Wimbledon junior champion Angelique Wijaya did not play in the
singles competition, but the Indonesians proved that they
remained too strong for the Malaysians, winning all three matches
at the Jalan Duta Tennis Complex.
Indonesia maintained its perfect record in the event, having
won the women's team tennis gold in every SEA Games dating back
to 1977.
For the Malaysians, the silver medal was an improvement from
the bronze they won in Brunei two years ago. Malaysia has also
won the bronze twice prior to the Brunei games.
Thailand, without its top-ranked players, and Vietnam took the
bronzes.
Tired-looking Malaysia could have rued its energy-sapping
match against Thailand in the semifinals on Monday, but that is
no reason to question the superiority of the Indonesians.
Indonesian singles player Romana Tedjakusuma outclassed
Malaysia's Tan Lynn Yin with her superb court control to win the
match 6-2, 6-1 in less than an hour.
In the second singles game, Wynne Prakusya hardly broke into a
sweat in beating Khoo Chin Bee 6-1, 6-4 in a match that lasted
around one hour.
Khoo, who put up a determined effort in the match against
Thailand, tried her best to make a comeback in the second set but
the Indonesian was simply too good for her.
The doubles match was a tame affair, with the Indonesian pair
of veteran Yayuk Basuki and teenager Angelique Wijaya needing
only 40 minutes to cast aside Tan Lynn Yin and Liaw Chen Yee 6-1,
6-0.
Target
Indonesian team manager Aga Soemarno gave credit to the
Malaysians, saying they could have been exhausted by the hard-
fought match against Thailand on Monday.
He said Indonesia would now concentrate on winning two more
golds to reach the tally they have targeted in the tennis.
At the Brunei games in 1999, Indonesia won the gold medal in
the women's team and women's doubles events.
Men's team
Meanwhile, the Indonesian men's team cruised to the final
after defeating the Philippines 3-0 in Tuesday's semifinals.
Indonesia got off to a winning start, with Peter Handoyo
overpowering Joseph Victorino 6-2, 6-2 in the first singles
event. Former men's singles champion Suwandi tamed Johnny Arcilla
6-3, 6-4 before the solid partnership of veterans Sulistyo Wibowo
and Bonit Wiryawan completed the victory.
However, it was not an easy match for the veterans, with the
Philippine duo of Johnny Arcilla and Michael Mora III putting up
a strong fight before succumbing to a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 loss.
Indonesia has set up a final rematch with defending champions
Thailand, which had a very easy 3-0 victory over Myanmar.
Vittaya Samrej beat Khin Maung Win 6-2, 6-0, followed by Danai
Udomchoke who did not lose a game against Maung Zaw Zaw Latt in
her 6-0, 6-0 victory.
Pracharapol Khamsaman and Attapol Rithiwatanapong defeated M
Tu Tu Ja and Maung Tu Maw 6-1, 6-3 for the finals berth. (nvn)