RI expects good start at Thomas, Uber Cups
RI expects good start at Thomas, Uber Cups
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia expects a comfortable start in its
defense of both the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup world badminton team
titles in Hong Kong where it will meet low-rated contenders in
opening matches.
The women's team will start its defense of the Uber Cup by
playing its first match against England on May 15, while its male
counterpart will meet the Netherlands in their Thomas Cup opener
May 16.
According to the match drawing conducted by the International
Badminton Federation (IBF) Tuesday in Hong Kong, the Indonesian
men's team is to meet South Korea on May 18 and play Malaysia in
a possible Group B top-of-the-table match two days after.
After taking on England, Indonesia's Uber Cup squad will face
the Netherlands on May 17 and meet the tournament's top ranked
South Korean team May 19.
Indonesia's opening matches are scheduled to start at 12:30
p.m. Hong Kong time (11:30 a.m. West Indonesia time).
The Indonesian Badminton Association's athlete development
deputy, Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar, was quick to express
satisfaction over the drawing.
"It's supposed to be a good start for us to avoid early
meetings with strong teams. The drawing allows us to warm up for
further but tougher matches," Siregar said as quoted by Antara.
He said he had nothing to worry about his teams playing at
noon.
"No problem with the timetable. Our players can make
themselves used to playing noon matches," Siregar said.
The drawing, however, gave Malaysia, the 1992 Thomas Cup
winner, a headache. It must set out on its bid to regain its past
glory with a do-or-die battle against dark horse South Korea on
May 16.
In the day's other Thomas Cup developments, top seed China was
placed to meet Sweden in a Group A match which may serve as an
appetizer for the Asian team. China will face its toughest hurdle
May 20 when it plays Europe's best hope, Denmark.
Underdog Hong Kong, which qualified for the championships as
the host, faces a daunting task in its early stages. It must play
China in the Uber Cup on May 15 and Denmark in the Thomas Cup
opener May 16.
The May 15 to May 24 badminton championships will be played at
the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. (lnt)
Order of play
Uber Cup: Indonesia vs. England, South Korea vs. Netherlands,
China vs. Hong Kong, Denmark vs. Japan (May 15); Indonesia vs.
Netherlands, South Korea vs. England, China vs. Japan, Denmark
vs. Hong Kong (May 17); Indonesia vs. South Korea, Netherlands
vs. England, China vs. Denmark, Japan vs. Hong Kong (May 19)
Thomas Cup: Indonesia vs. Netherlands, China vs. Sweden, Malaysia
vs. South Korea, Denmark vs. Hong Kong (May 16); Indonesia vs.
South Korea, Malaysia vs. Netherlands, China vs. Hong Kong,
Denmark vs. Sweden (May 18); Indonesia vs. Malaysia, Netherlands
vs. South Korea, China vs. Denmark, Sweden vs. Hong Kong (May 20)