Indonesian boys qualify for World Cup tennis

Indonesian boys qualify for World Cup tennis

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian boys tennis team yesterday
secured a place at the World Youth Cup finals in Essen, Germany,
next September.

The girls clinched their spot early on Friday.

Feby Widhiyanto's 6-3, 6-4 win yesterday gave the Indonesian
boys team a decisive 2-0 lead over New Zealand, and a place in
the World Youth Cup finals.

Had it not rained heavily, Feby would have finished his match
against Marc Paulik on Friday, which was suspended at 6-3, 3-4
(15-0). Feby took only ten minutes to end Paulik's struggle.

Trailing 3-4 (15-0) the day before, Feby easily leveled the
points at 4-4 and advanced to victory without giving Paulik a
chance to add a single point.

Peter Handoyo gave Indonesia a 1-0 lead after his sharp 7-5,
1-6, 7-5 win over James Shotall on Friday.

In the boys' doubles, which was no longer decisive, Shotall
and Paulik succeeded to force Feby and Hendri Sulilo Pramono to
concede 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 defeat.

The 2-1 win over New Zealand enables Indonesia to take on the
Australian boys in today's semifinals. Australia crushed Malaysia
3-0 on Friday.

South Korea and Chinese Taipei are the other semifinalists.
Korea advanced to semis after eclipsing India 3-0. Chinese Taipei
beat China 2-1 to make it this far.

Indonesian girls yesterday consummated their victory after
doubles Liza Andriyani and Wynne Prakusya pipped Thailand's
Busrin Boontemlaew and Montika Anuchan 6-2, 6-1.

In today's girls semis, Indonesia will face Japan, who clipped
their Australian opponents 2-1.

The other girls semifinalists are the Philippines, who whipped
South Korea 3-0, and China who also trashed New Zealand 3-0.

In 1992, the Indonesian girls advanced to the World Youth Cup
finals in Barcelona, Spain, and finished 12th. The Indonesian
boys were ranked seventh, but finished 12th in the 1993 finals in
New Zealand. (arf)