JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia shrugged off the odds as the host nation whipped South Korea 4-1 to advance to the final of the Uber Cup world women's team badminton championships at an emotion-charged, tension-filled Senayan indoor stadium last night.

In the Thomas Cup defending champion Malaysia also booked a finals berth after downing China 3-2 in last night's semifinals, with debutante Ong Ewe Hock becoming the toast of the title holders. His 15-11, 15-6 victory over Dong Jiong gave Malaysia an unassailable 3-0 lead.

The other finals slot in the Thomas Cup will be determined this evening when Indonesia meets South Korea.

Susi Susanti and company will take on the winner of this evening's China-Sweden semifinal on Friday.

With last night's win Indonesia managed to break its South Korea jinx as it had lost to them in the last three Uber Cup semifinals and it is the first time in eight years that Indonesia has made it to the Uber Cup final.

When Indonesia made the final in 1986 at the same venue, the home side went down 2-3 to China. Indonesia last won the championship in 1975 when a Minarni-led squad beat Japan 5-2, also in Jakarta.

Heroine

Twenty-one-old Yuliani Santosa was the heroine in Indonesia's stunning win over favorite South Korea as she rose to the occasion splendidly to clinch the all-important point by defeating Ra Kyun Min 11-3, 12-9 in the second singles match.

Susi Susanti and the doubles pair of Lili Tampi and Finarsih had earlier won their matches to give Indonesia a 2-0 lead.

South Korea sprung a surprise when it fielded Kim Ji-hyun at first singles instead of its ace shuttler Bang Soo-hyun, ranked third in the world. Bang played only second doubles with Gil Young-ah, beating Indonesia's second best pair of Eliza and Zelin Resiana 15-2, 2-15, 18-16.

World number one Susi, the acknowledged queen of badminton, hardly broke a sweat in her 11-4, 11-2 demolition of Kim.

Then Lili and Finarsih stepped onto the court to snuff out the game opposition of South Korea's second doubles team of Shim Eun- jong and Jang Hye-ock with a hard-fought 15-9, 15-4 victory. The Indonesian ace pair crashed to a straight sets defeat to the same opponents in the quarterfinals of the All England championships last March.

South Korean team manager Kim Joong-soo's pre-match boasts that his side would roll over Indonesia 5-0 proved hollow as his charges wilted under the tremendous pressure of Susi and teammates and the vociferous support of the home fans.

Asian champion Yuliani needed only 15 minutes to take the first set. But the second set was a touch-and-go affair, with the two players struggling hard to outstroke and outwit each other in a tussle highlighted by a series of exhilarating, energy-sapping rallies.

Flag-waving

With thousands of flag-waving, drum-beating and cheering supporters, roaring encouragement Yuliani soon raced to a 8-3 lead and appeared to have the set and the match sewn up. But Kim fought back impressively to reel off five points in a row to level the score at 8-8.

The Korean led 9-8 after Yuliani lobbed the shuttle out following a rally. But Ra, who appeared greatly distracted by the boos and jeers showered on her by the partisan home crowd, faltered as Yuliani forced a deuce before wrapping up the set and the match.

Jubilation prevailed at the whole Indonesian camp as Yubing, as Yuliani is called by close friends, kneeled and burst into tears.

"Our team's 2-0 lead was all that boosted my confidence to fight it out," said an elated Yuliani after the heart-stopping match. Yuliani, who was earlier expected to meet Kim, thus gained sweet revenge for the loss to Ra in the 1992 Asian Badminton Confederation championships.

"I have carefully studied Ra's performance a lot through videos. Although she has skillful tactics, her stamina is quite suspect," Yuliani said, adding that the roaring cheers of the frenzied crowds reserved for her might also have contributed to Ra's downfall as she appeared nervous when the chips were down.

Han Sung-gie, a South Korean official who spoke on behalf of team manager Kim Joong-soo, admitted that the Indonesian fans had greatly rattled and ruffled the mental resolve of his players. (bas/amd)

Results: (Menyusul)