Malaysia labors to beat S. Korea 3-2 in Thomas Cup

JAKARTA (JP): The second string doubles pair of Tan Kim Her and Yap Kim Hock played a pivotal role in Thomas Cup holder Malaysia's 3-2 win over South Korea in their Group B match at Senayan indoor stadium on Wednesday.

While Malaysia faced stiff opposition before carving out that win, Denmark strolled to an emphatic 5-0 victory over Thailand in Wednesday's other Thomas Cup tie.

Denmark benched its third singles player Peter Espersen, fielding Soren Nielsen instead. The Danes also jumbled their doubles pair, fielding the unlikely combination of Thomas Lund and Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen.

Despite that, the Danes still had too much firepower for the gritty but outclassed Thais.

Malaysia also sprang a surprise by fielding the up-and-coming pair of Yap Kim Hock and Tan Kim Her at second doubles in place of the aging Razif and Jalani Sidek. But Yap and Kim did not let the Malaysian camp down.

Tan and Yap, runners-up in the recent Asian championships, upset South Korea's Yoo Yong-soon and Kim Dong-moon 15-8, 15-12 to give their squad an insurmountable 3-1 lead.

The Malaysian players fought tooth and nail despite a hostile crowd of 4,000 that delighted in booing them at every opportunity.

Kim dominated for most of the first set to open up a 13-9 lead and appeared poised to clinch the set. But Rashid, the hero of Malaysia's 1992 Thomas Cup triumph, clawed his way back to take the first set 18-13 and found little resistance in the second, winning it 15-8. It was Rashid's fifth win over Kim in as many encounters.

The Malaysian number one doubles pair of Cheah Soon Keat and Soo Beng Kiang breezed past Lee Kwang-jin and Lee Suk-ho 15-3, 15-1. But Malaysia's second singles player Ong Ewe Hock fell in an upset 16-18, 15-6, 16-18 to wily Park Sung-woo.

In a match which was of academic interest, South Korea's Lee Kwang Jin came from behind to beat Asian champion Foo Kok Keong 12-15, 15-4, 15-5.

Jon Holst-Christensen formed a solid partnership with Michael Soegaard to give Denmark an unbeatable 3-0 lead after their 15-9, 15-12 win over Siripong Siripol and Khunakorn Sudhisodhi.

Thomas Lund also teamed up well with Stuer-Lauridsen as the makeshift Danish pair downed Promote Teerawiwatana and Sakrapee Thongsari 15-10, 15-12.

Uber Cup

In the Uber Cup, world badminton queen Susi Susanti spearheaded the Indonesian women as they began their drive for the title with a 5-0 rout of minnow Thailand.

Displaying an unusually aggressive style, Susi, who has won every major world singles title, needed less than 20 minutes to disposed of Somharuethai Jaroensiri 11-2, 11-3.

Sweden came from behind for a 3-2 win over Denmark when Danish singles ace Camille Martin was upset by Chinese-born Lim Xiao Qing in a three-set thriller 11-8, 5-11, 11-12.

The clash between the two Scandinavian countries saw four matches end in three sets. The Swedish number one pair of Maria Bengtsson and Catrine Bengtsson contributed a point to their team by nipping Anne Bille and Marlene Thompson, 15-9, 10-15, 17-16. (amd)

Wednesday's results:

Thomas Cup Malaysia 3 Korea 2 Denmark 5 Thailand 0

Uber Cup Indonesia 5 Thailand 0 Sweden 3 Denmark 2