RI beats Denmark 3-0 cruising to finals
RI beats Denmark 3-0 cruising to finals
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Guangzhou, China
Indonesia is a step closer to retaining the Thomas Cup after
crushing Denmark 3-0 in the semifinals of the men's badminton
competition in Guangzhou, China on Friday evening.
The Indonesian team will meet archrivals Malaysia in the
finals on Sunday as it attempts to win five Thomas Cup titles in
a row. Malaysia denied hosts China a finals berth in Thursday's
semifinal match.
The joy was completed by the news that Indonesian team manager
Christian Hadinata was admitted to the Badminton Hall of Fame.
On the court, first singles Marlev Mainaky came from behind to
defeat Kenneth Jonassen 3-7, 6-8, 7-5, 7-0, 7-2 in the first
match at the Tianhe Sports Center.
Marlev found himself two sets down against Jonassen, 3-7, 6-8
before regaining his composure and mounting the comeback.
The Indonesian pulled clear to a 6-0 lead in the third game
but it proved far from over.
Jonassen forced Marlev to run all over the court, reducing the
gap to 5-6.
But Marlev did not give his opponent a second chance, taking
the third set 7-5.
Showing no mercy, Marlev chalked up 7-0, 7-2 wins in the
remaining two sets.
Marlev now has a 4-0 head-to-head win record over Jonassen.
Indonesia extended its lead when first doubles pair of Candra
Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto defeated Jens Eriksen and Martin
Lundgaard Hansen in a one-sided match 7-1, 7-2, 6-8, 7-4.
In the third set, the Indonesians took a 6-2 lead but
confusion in defense allowed the Danes to level 6-6 before ending
the game the 8-6 winner.
With the absence of Chinese shuttlers, the home crowd opted to
throw its weight behind the Danes. Local spectators, however,
cheered every point.
Candra and Sigit led the fourth game 4-0 only to let the Danes
equalize 4-4. But the Indonesian pair, ranked seven in the world,
finished their match 7-4 to extend Indonesia's lead 2-0.
Indonesia clinched an unassailable 3-0 lead after Taufik
Hidayat defeated Anders Boesen 6-8, 3-7, 7-5, 7-3, 7-1.
Boesen won the first game 8-6 after having trailed 0-3 and 3-
6, thanks largely to Taufik's poor accuracy in returning the
shuttlecock.
Taufik also lost the second game 3-7. He seemed unable to
develop his play despite playing well at the net and covering his
side of the court well.
Taufik took the third set against the expressive Boesen, who
often danced on the court or punched his fist in the air to
celebrate winning a point.
A calm Taufik won the last two games 7-3, 7-1.
"Taufik has applied the strategy well but when he was in the
lead, he often performed unnecessary stylish shots giving the
opponent a chance to grab the points," said coach Joko
Supriyanto.
"Being caught up, Taufik then changed to offensive play. But
he play carefully," he added.
With the tie already sealed after three matches, the last two
contests -- Halim Haryanto and Tri Kusheryanto versus Lars Paske
and Jonas Rasmussen, and Hendrawan versus Peter Rasmussen -- did
not need to be played.