RI loses to Danes for 1st time in Uber Cup

By Primastuti Handayani

KUALA LUMPUR (JP): As feared, Indonesia's Uber Cup team lost 1-4 to Denmark on Saturday in the pink group round-robin of the Uber Cup team championships, its first loss to the Danes in the event's history.

First singles Lidya Djaelawidjaja entered the record books as being on the receiving end of the fastest Uber Cup defeat when she bowed out to Camilla Martin 3-11, 2-11 in only 15 minutes at the Putra Indoor Stadium here.

Lidya looked unsure of her own performance from the very beginning, seemingly short on concentration and motivation. She made many unforced errors and failed to repeat her excellent performance in the Indonesia Open last year when she defeated Martin. Their match history now stands at 5-1 in the Dane's favor.

Doubles Elysa Nathanael and Deyana Lomban, who were expected to beat Rikke Olsen and Helene Kirkegaard, failed to accomplish their mission, losing 15-12, 10-15, 6-15 in 65 minutes.

Deyana had to move all over the court covering gaps, in between performing some fine leaping smashes and playing solid defense. However, Elysa was unable to equal her partner's form. Indeed, she has had trouble doing so since injuring her right leg last year.

They failed to cover for each other smoothly on the court and gave away too many soft points, leaving the advantage to the world number five pair.

The fielding of the duo, which was predicted to tie 1-1, may not have happened should women's doubles coach Imelda Wigoeno have fielded Etty Tantri and Cynthia Tuwankota as was speculated earlier.

Ellen Angelina sealed Indonesia's losing fate. She got off to a shaky start in the first game, losing 4-11. In the second game, she was down 3-7 before managing to tie 7-7. But Sorensen was able to win two more points before the Indonesian again forced the game to another tie, 9-9. But her hard work was too late as Sorensen ensured Denmark's 3-0 victory by winning the match 11-9.

Old hands Minarti Timur and Zelin Resiana, both mixed doubles specialists, closed the gap to 1-3, with a victory over Vange and Pernille Harder 15-10, 7-15, 15-5.

In the final match Niniek Masrikah lost to Mette Pedersen 11- 8, 4-11, 1-11.

Coach Imelda Wigoeno told a postmatch media conference the team must beat Malaysia if it wanted to earn a semifinal berth.

"We had been predicted to lose against Denmark. But we had hoped Ellen, the key player, could steal one point from Mette Sorensen. Unfortunately she was very nervous and made unforced errors, especially in the first game."

Imelda said she decided not to field Etty Tantri and Cynthia Tuwankotta due to their bad performances in the Uber Cup qualifying round in New Delhi.

Japan had to struggle before eliminating host Malaysia 3-2 in a very tough match before 2,000 spectators.

Whitewash

On another court, Indonesia's Thomas Cup team whitewashed England 5-0, securing a place in the semifinals.

First singles Hendrawan got off to a shaky start before beating Colin Haughton 15-8, 15-12. Playing unlike his usual self, Hendrawan made unforced errors specially when smashing.

Doubles Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan survived their first test by defeating Simon Archer and Nathan Robertson 15-12, 15-5 in 49 minutes. Candra and Tony seemed very nervous in the opening game.

But the world number one pair was no contest for the English duo. Regrettably, the four shuttlers quarreled on court for nearly five minutes.

Taufik Hidayat had a comfortably win over Mark Constable, 15- 6, 15-5 in 34 minutes, ensuring a 3-0 lead for the country. While the new partnership of Sigit Budiarto and Antonius Budi Ariantho contributed another point after beating Anthony Clark and Ian Sullivan 15-6, 15-9. Third singles Marlev Mainaky barely sweated to overcome Michael Edge 15-3, 15-5.

On different court, another favorite China claimed its second victory against Sweden winning all matches 5-0.

Results

Thomas Cup Indonesia bt England 5-0 Hendrawan bt Colin Haughton 15-8, 15-12, Candra Wijaya/Tony Gunawan bt Nathan Robertson/Simon Archer 15-12, 15-5, Taufik Hidayat bt Mark Constable 15-6, 15-5, Antonius Budi Ariantho/Sigit Budiarto bt Anthony Clark/Ian Sullivan 15-6, 15-9, Marlev Mainaky bt Michael Edge 15-3, 15-5 China bt Sweden 5-0 Xia Xuanze bt Thomas Johansson 15-4, 15-10, Zhang Jun/Yu Jinhao bt Par-Gunnar Jonsson/Peter Axelsson 15-7, 15-4, Ji Xinpeng bt Rasmus Wengberg 15-9, 15-9, Zhang Wei/Liu Yong bt Henrik Andersson/Frederik Bergstrom 15-4, 15-4, Chen Hong bt Martin Hagberg 15-10, 15-12

Uber Cup

Denmark bt Indonesia 4-1

Camilla Martin bt Lidya Djaelawidjaja 11-3, 11-2, Helene Kirkegaard/Rikke Olsen bt Elysa Nathanael/Deyana Lomban 12-15, 15-10, 15-6, Mette Sorensen bt Ellen Angelina 11-4, 11-9, Majken Vange/Pernille Harder lost to Minarti Timur/Zelin Resiana 10-15, 15-7, 5-15, Mette Pedersen bt Niniek Masrikah 8-11, 11-4, 11-1

Japan bt Malaysia 3-2

Yasuko Mizui bt Ng Mee Fen 11-6, 11-1, Yoshiko Iwata/Haruko Matsuda lost to Lim Pek Siah/Joanna SL Quay 13-15, 11-15, Takako Ida bt Wong Miew Kheng 11-5, 11-0, Chikako Nakayama/Naomi Murakami lost to Ang Li Peng/Chor Hooi Yee 15-10, 11-15, 15-17, Miho Tanaka bt Woon Sze Mei 13-10, 11-4