JAKARTA (JP): With doubts hanging over main singles player

JAKARTA (JP): With doubts hanging over main singles player
Suwandi's fitness, the Indonesian tennis team's chances in the
Asia-Oceania relegation play-off match against China look slim.

The tie, to be played at the Kemayoran tennis complex, begins
on Friday, with Peter Handoyo drawn to take on Yu Zhang in the
first singles. Suwandi will be up against Zu Beng Qiang. The
visiting team is led by Ma Ke-Qin.

"But I doubt if he (Suwandi) will be fit in time. And with him
being in such a condition, I'm very pessimistic about the team's
chances," Benny Mailili, a tennis official, told The Jakarta Post
here on Thursday.

Suwandi is still nursing an abdominal injury he suffered in
the men's singles final match at the Southeast Asian Games in
Kuala Lumpur over the weekend.

Benny said Suwandi was the player on whom the country's hopes
were resting.

"We can't expect much from Peter. He hasn't enough tournament
experience," he said.

Benny also lamented the fact that the team had to enter the
competition with only four days rest after their Kuala Lumpur
outing.

"They've hardly been able to get their breath back after their
earlier matches as they've had to start preparations again soon
after they arrived back here," said Benny, who is also the public
relations officer of the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti).

Pelti officials, Benny said, appeared to be indifferent about
the hectic schedule for the Indonesian team.

"I was very concerned about the schedule and suggested that
the officials propose to the ITF (International Tennis
Federation) that the dates be rescheduled.

"In my opinion, we should have had at least a one-week break
between matches," he said.

Indonesia suffered a 5-0 drubbing by China in their last
encounter in 1996 event.

Now they have to play again after each were beaten twice in
their most recent ties. Indonesia was beaten 2-3 by Uzbekistan in
Jakarta last February and 1-4 by South Korea in Seoul in July.

China's defeats were at the hands of India 3-2 and Thailand 5-
0.

The winner of the three-day competition will stay in the Asia
Oceania group which is currently incorporates Japan, New Zealand,
India, Thailand, Korea and Uzbekistan. The loser will be
relegated to group two.

set 1 col

Order of play (Indonesia named first):

Friday
Peter Handoyo vs Yu Zhang (10.30 a.m.)
Suwandi vs Zu Beng Qiang

Saturday
Bonit Wiryawan/Sulistyo Wibowo vs Yang Zhing Zu/Li Si (11 a.m.)

Sunday
Suwandi vs Yu Zhang (10.30 a.m.)
Peter Handoyo vs Zu Beng Qiang