Indonesia vs Lebanon in Davis Cup

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian men's tennis team will leave for Beirut today to challenge Lebanon in the Group I Asia Oceania Davis Cup playoff.

Indonesian Tennis Association deputy secretary-general Subiyanto SP said yesterday that the playoff would take place from July 17 to July 19 at the Lebanese capital's Zouk Mikail Indoor Stadium.

Veterans Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo, accompanied by newcomer Febi Widhiyanto and non-playing captain Deddy Prasetyo, will fly from Jakarta, while Indonesia's top player, Andrian Raturandang, will join the squad from Germany.

The Lebanese team consists of Jicham Zastini, Ali Hamadah, Gassan Achbar and Alex Zakkaria, with Karim Assoundd as their non-playing captain.

Indonesia has to win the playoff to stay alive in the group. A loss would bring on a promotional match against the winner between South Korea and China.

Indonesia lost 0-5 to New Zealand here last year.

Subiyanto had said the association faced financial problems in sending the squad, but an anonymous oil businessman has provided the necessary funds. (yan)