Naharuddin leads RI boys to semis
JAKARTA (JP): Naharuddin was the unlikely hero of the Indonesian boys' team when it outlasted stubborn South Korea 2-1 to reach the semifinals of the World Junior Tennis Championship Asia/Oceania qualifier yesterday.
With ace singles Eko Kurniawan failing to regain his best form, Naharuddin proved he was no mere supporting player to his teammate.
Hours after successfully giving his side an opening lead with a 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) win over Jung Eui-sik in a match lasting almost two hours, Naharuddin spearheaded a formidable partnership with Eko to beat the South Korean duo of Jung and Kwon Hyung-tae 6-4, 6-4 in the deciding doubles.
Rain delayed the match for two hours, giving Indonesia's nonplaying captain Deddy Prasetyo ample time to psyche up and drill his boys with new tactics, particularly after Eko crashed out in the second singles.
Eko was totally out of sorts as he conceded his second straight loss in the tournament in a 1-6, 4-6 drubbing by Kwon.
"Eko told me he failed to develop his own play, and instead he was dictated by Kwon. I don't know why, but he looked very tired," Deddy said.
Indonesia will play Hong Kong, a 3-0 winner over Uzbekistan in another quarterfinal, in today's semifinals.
In the other semifinal, India, which beat China 2-1 yesterday, will meet Chinese Taipei, which upset last year's winner Australia by the same scoreline.
Finalists and the winner of the match between losing semifinalists will qualify for the world championship in Nagoya in August.
Both Deddy and his Hong Kong counterpart Ashley Hobson were optimistic about their chances to win the duel.
"My team is pretty good, I have strong feelings that they can make it," said Hobson, who has been coaching Hong Kong's junior players for almost two years.
He acknowledged the home team was a dangerous side because of its tough play. "We never know what will happen in such games," he said.
In the girls' event, Angelique Widjaja and Novianti Warsono pummeled India 3-0 to move one win away from clinching a world championship berth.
Angelique, a 1997 world championship veteran, overpowered Megha Vakharia 6-3, 6-3 to give Indonesia a winning lead. In the earlier match, Novianti beat Isha Lakani 7-5, 6-2.
The Indonesian girls will face Chinese Taipei, a 2-1 winner over China yesterday, in the Group One top-of-the-table match today.
Group winners will square off in the final tomorrow, and group runners-up will clash for a slot in the world championship. (emf)