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