Indonesia to face China in Asia Cup semifinals

JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion and top seed Indonesia will face powerhouse China in Saturday's semifinals of the US$170,000 Asia Cup badminton tournament at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Indonesia continued its winning ways on Friday, taming dark horse South Korea 2-1 in a Group A round-robin match. The win moved Indonesian to the top of the group.

China punched its semifinals ticket by defeating Malaysia 2-1.

The other semifinal match will see Thailand facing South Korea. Thailand advanced to the semis despite its shock 3-0 loss to Japan.

Indonesia got off to a rocky start against South Korea, with world number two Taufik Hidayat falling to rising star Lee Hyun- il 15-3, 15-7.

But the duo of Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto proved too powerful for Lee Dong-soo and Chung Jee-sung, winning 15-9, 15-2 and evening the match at 1-1.

Olympic silver medalist Hendrawan sealed Indonesia's victory by taking out Shon Seung-mo 15-6, 15-7 in the decisive third match.

"From what I saw, I think the Koreans didn't play their best as part of a strategy to avoid having to see China tomorrow," Hendrawan told The Jakarta Post by phone.

"As for us, it's not a big deal who we face tomorrow. We prepared to take on either China or Thailand."

Hendrawan said he had never played against Chen Yu of China, but knows the youngster is a good shuttler.

Candra told the Post: "We didn't pick our opponents for tomorrow's semifinals but the Koreans seemed afraid of having to face China."

"As for tomorrow, we'll perform all out against China. Tomorrow's matches will be very tough because both countries are strong in singles and doubles. But I aim to retain our title and earn a hat trick."

In other action on Friday, Hong Kong grabbed a 2-1 win over Singapore, with Indonesian-born Agus Hariyanto defeating Candra's brother-in-law Ronald Susilo 15-12, 15-5.

Liu Kwok Wa and Albertus Njoto secured another point for Hong Kong by defeating Patrick Lau and Aman Santosa 15-13, 15-9.

Singapore managed to steal one point thanks to Indra Wijaya, Candra's older brother, who defeated veteran shuttler Tam Kai Chuen 17-14, 12-15, 15-12.

In a do-or-die Group B match, China's Chen Hong, the All England runner-up, was pushed to the limit by Malaysia's Ong Ewe Hock, eventually sweating out a 15-8, 16-17, 15-12 victory to give China a 1-0 lead.

China's doubles team of Zhang Jun and Zhang Wei found no trouble in their match against Malaysia's Chan Chong Ming and Chew Choon Eng, racing to a 15-6, 15-5 win and giving China an insurmountable 2-0 lead.

Chen Yu fell to Malaysian number two Wong Choon Hann 15-1, 15- 8 in the inconsequential third match.

Japan unexpectedly romped to 3-0 victory over Group B winner Thailand, a last-minute substitute for India.

Hidetaka Yamada beat Boonsak Polsana 15-5, 15-10, Takuyu Katayama and Yuzo Kubota beat Pramote Teerawiwatana and Tesana Pansisavas 15-8, 15-8, and Keita Masuda completed the shutout by beating Anuphap Thiraratsakul 15-8, 15-4.

The winner of the Asia Cup will pocket $80,000. (nvn/yan)