Indonesia to face China, Korea vs Denmark in Uber Cup semis

By Primastuti Handayani

KUALA LUMPUR (JP): Indonesian girls will have to fight harder in their next match against China in the final four of the Uber Cup Championships at the Putra Indoor Stadium Wednesday.

Another semifinals will see Denmark trying to become the first European country to bring home the trophy in its battle against South Korea.

Indonesia landed the semifinals berth after winning 5-0 in the last pink group round-robin match against host Malaysia Monday.

Denmark had three winning points after its shuttlers defeated Japan 3-2.

In the purple group, China increased its chances of winning the championships by defeating the group's runner-up South Korea 5-0, while the Netherlands defeated Sweden 3-2.

Indonesia's first singles Lidya Djaelawidjaja, who suffered humiliating defeats in two previous matches against Japan and Denmark, performed well enough to comfortably beat Ng Mee Fen 11- 6, 11-9 in 33 minutes.

However, Lidya's performance was not flawless. She made a number of unforced errors at critical points in the game.

Compliments must be given to Indonesian doubles specialist Deyana Lomban whose leaping smashes demolished MalaysiansLim Pek Siah and Joanna Quay.

Deyana and Elysa Nathanael had a comfortable victory in the first game, winning 15-2. But in the second game, the Malaysians managed to lead 10-4 before the Indonesians narrowed the score 9- 10.

Thanks to their performance, Deyana and Elysa managed to save the team's dignity, beating the Malaysians 15-11.

Third singles Ellen Angelina, said to be the team's key player, led 10-0 in the first game but all of sudden she became nervous and began to make unforced errors advancing Wong Miew Kheng to trail 5-10.

After a five-time service over, Ellen concluded the match 11- 5.

In the second game, the 24-year-old Indonesian played more nervously, allowing the Malaysian to tie 10-10.

Relying on her experience, Ellen managed to win 13-10.

Second doubles Etty Tantri and Cynthia Tuwankotta played beautifully before the nearly 1,000 spectators in the 15,000-seat stadium.

Etty's neat netting and Cynthia's leaping smashes were no contest for Chor Hooi Yee and Ang Li Peng who won the match 15-3, 15-9.

In the last match, Yuli Marfuah lost the first game 6-11 to Wong Pei Ty, then won the second and third games 11-5, 11-1.

In another court, Denmark lost the last two matches to Japan.

Camilla Martin had a comfortable win over Yasuko Mizui 11-3, 11-1. First doubles Helene Kirkegaard and Rikke Olsen contributed another point by beating Yoshiko Iwata and Haruko Matsuda 15-7, 15-3 while Mette Sorensen defeated Takako Ida 11-3, 11-1 to claim the group's leader position.

But Majken Vange and Pernille Harder had to bow out to Chikako Nakayama/Naomi Murakami 15-8, 4-15, 14-17 while Mette Pedersen was beaten by Miho Tanaka 7-11, 10-13.

Results

Indonesia bt Malaysia 5-0: Lidya Djaelawidjaja bt Ng Mee Fen 11-6, 11-9, Elysa Nathanael/Deyana Lomban bt Lim Pek Siah/Joanna Quay 15-2, 15-11, Ellen Angelina bt Wong Miew Kheng 11-5, 13-10, Etty Tantri/Cynthia Tuwankotta bt Ang Li Peng/Chor Hooi Yee 15-3, 15-9, Yuli Marfuah bt Wong Pei Ty 6-11, 11-5, 11-1

Denmark bt Japan 3-2: Camilla Martin bt Yasuko Mizui 11-3, 11-1, Helene Kirkegaard/Rikke Olsen bt Yoshiko Iwata/Haruko Matsuda 15-7, 15-3, Mette Sorensen bt Takako Ida 11-3, 11-1, Majken Vange/Pernille Harder lost to Chikako Nakayama/Naomi Murakami 15-8, 4-15, 14-17, Mette Pedersen lost to Miho Tanaka 7-11, 10-13

China bt South Korea 5-0: Gong Zhichao bt Si Jin-sun 11-3, 11-4, Dai Yun bt Jung Yeon-kyung 11-3, 11-2, Gong Ruina bt Kim So-yeon 11-3, 11-2, Gao Ling/Qin Yiyuan bt Si Jin-sun/Lee Hyo-jung 15-5, 15-8, Gu Jun/Ge Fei bt Jung Yeon-kyung/Kim So-yeon 15-2, 15-6

The Netherlands bt Sweden 3-2: Judith Meulendijks lost to Margit Borg 11-6, 8-11, 7-11, Karina de Wit lost to Karolina Ericsson 7-11, 6-11, Lonneke Janssen bt Johanna Holgersson 11-5, 11-13, 11-3, Nicole van Hooren/Lotte Jonathans bt Johanna Persson/Anna Lundin 15-9, 15-13, Judith Meulendijks/Lonneke Janssen bt Margit Borg/Johanna Holgersson 15-2, 15-8