PBSI to announce Thomas, Uber Cup lineups

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java

The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) will announce on Monday the final lineups for the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup, set to take place in Jakarta in May, after the team hopefuls concluded a second series of simulation games in Bandung at the weekend.

Twenty-eight players, 14 men and women, participated in the simulation on Saturday.

The first series was held in Batam last month, which was rocked by a now-resolved boycott by a number coaches.

Christian Hadinata, the director of the national training camp, told reporters on the sidelines of the Bandung event that he was satisfied with the game results but refused to reveal a fixed lineup as yet, saying it would be announced on Monday.

"We will officially announce the lineup on Monday," he said. The fixed lineup is expected to consist 10 men and 10 women.

The Thomas Cup and Uber Cup, the world's biennial badminton team championships, will be staged in Jakarta from May 7 to May 16.

Indonesia is the defending champion in the Thomas Cup while its last triumph in the Uber Cup was back in 1996.

Twelve teams in each division, split into groups of three, will be playing based upon a format of three singles and two doubles matches.

Speaking about their prospects in the Thomas Cup, Christian said: "We expect to secure two points from the doubles. Therefore, if that works we'll need to win one of the (three) singles."

With Taufik Hidayat, Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Simon Santoso assured of their places, the PBSI will include another player to make it four in the singles.

The candidates are Wimpie Mahardi, Marleve Mainaky and Taufiq Hidayat Akbar. None of the three looked overly impressive as they were all beaten on Saturday.

Marleve lost to Simon 15-9, 15-8. Wimpie was defeated by twice Asia champion Sony 15-8, 15-9 while Taufiq went down to Taufik Hidayat 15-5, 15-11.

In the doubles, in which the team is looking for two pairs, Candra Wijaya, who was paired with Sigit Budiarto in the Batam round, teamed up with Tri Kusharjanto to beat Luluk Hadiyanto and Alven Yulianto 15-10, 17-15.

Sigit Budiarto switched to partner Halim Haryanto, the regular partner of Candra, only to lose to Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian 15-9, 10-15, 15-7.

Meanwhile, Maria Kristin, Silvi Antarini and Firdasari Adrianti have taken three of the four spots provided in the women's singles. The three defeated their respective opponents on Saturday.

However, coach Ivana Lie was apparently concerned about Silvi's buildup for the championship after she was had to go to three sets in her 9-11, 11-4, 13-11 defeat of Yuli Marfuah.

Meanwhile, Ivana Lie, the women's singles coach for the Uber Cup said that her target is was only to reach the semifinal.

"Our first match will be with the Netherlands and it would be much easier for us if Mia Audina did not play. Currently, we still don't know the Netherlands' lineup," she said.

"Silvi often made mistakes during the game because she was nervous. She will have to tackle her tension, otherwise she will struggle to score points," Ivana said.

Maria chalked up an easy 11-2, 11-2 win over Dewi Tira while Firdasari registered a crushing 11-3, 11-3 win over Maria Elvina.

In the doubles, Endang Nursugianti and Heny Budiman beat Greysia Polii and Rani Mundiastuti with 15-11, 15-7 while Jo Novita and Lilyana Natsir had to struggle to beat Lita Nurlita and Eny Erlangga 15-6, 16-17, 15-9.

Indonesia is grouped with the Netherlands and defending champion China in the Uber Cup, while in the Thomas Cup it is drawn against the United States and China.