Malaysia determined to beat
Malaysia determined to beat
South Korea in Thomas Cup
JAKARTA (JP): Thomas Cup holder Malaysia hopes to get off to a
fine start as it opens its title-defense against darkhorse South
Korea in the world men's team badminton championship today.
Denmark, Europe's strongest badminton country, plays underdog
Thailand in the other Thomas Cup clash today at Senayan indoor
stadium.
Malaysian team manager Punch Gunalan said yesterday he was
convinced that his side could get the better of South Korea, but
added that his charges should not take the Koreans lightly.
"We swallowed a bitter pill two years ago at home when we lost
to South Korea 3-2 in our opening matches. But this time around
there is no way they could beat us," Gunalan said.
Malaysia will most likely field number one player Rashid
Sidek, a young but rapidly improving Ong Ewe Hock, who is making
his Thomas Cup debut, and Asian champion, the veteran Foo Kok
Keong in the singles. In the doubles Malaysia will continue to
rely on the crack partnership of regular Thomas Cup campaigners,
the veterans Razif and Jalani Sidek and the pair of Cheah Soon
Kit and Soo Beng Kiang
Gunalan said the top ranked doubles shuttlers were a strong
point in the Malaysian armory.
Both Rashid and Ong have never met their South Korean
opposites Kim Hak-kyun and Park Sung-woo. Foo, 30 , scored a
hard-fought 15-18, 15-12, 15-10 win over South Korean number
three Ahan Jae-chang in last March's All England tournament in
London.
Gunalan was also upbeat about his team's chances against
Denmark. He even ventured to predict that Malaysia would edge the
Danes 3-2 to top Group B.
"I know that Denmark has a formidable singles line-up. They
are also strong in doubles. But this is a team competition where
unrated players can expect to upset their favored rivals," said
Gunalan.
Danish team manager Carsten Laugesen was just as confident,
saying that his players would pass the first hurdle with flying
colors.
Against Thailand this evening, Denmark is out to win all the
matches. "Every match is important to make sure that we will
reach the semifinals," Laugesen said. He added that the only
player to watch in the Thai squad is Sompol Kukamsekij, once
rated among the world's top 10.
The towering Thomas Stuer Lauridsen, a bronze medalist at the
1992 Barcelona Olympics, and the up-and-coming Poul-Erik Hoyer-
Larsen are Denmark 's biggest hopes in the singles. Its third
singles player will likely be Peter Espersen.
The Thai singles line-up consists of Sompol, Kittipon Kitikul
and Teeranun Chiangta.
Denmark's hopes in the doubles will largely rest on the able
shoulders of Thomas Lund and Jon Holst Christensen, currently
ranked third in the world. Henrik Svarrer and Jim Laugesen will
form Denmark's second doubles team.
Uber Cup
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Uber Cup team is determined to sweep
to a 5-0 victory against Thailand today. "We will field our best
line-up against the Thais, "Iwan Setiawan, the training director
of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) said.
The unflappable Susi Susanti, the reigning world badminton
queen, will spearhead Indonesia's strong challenge. Defending
champion China, South Korea and Indonesia are capable of lifting
the Cup and the competition is poised to be a very interesting
affair compared to The Thomas Cup, in which Indonesia looks like
a runaway victor. (amd/bas)
Today's matches (begin 6.30 p.m.)
Thomas Cup : Denmark v Thailand; Malaysia v S. Korea
Uber Cup : Indonesia v Thailand; Denmark v Sweden