RI meets S. Korea, Malaysia vs Taipei at Asia Cup semis

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is to meet South Korea and Malaysia is to face Chinese Taipei at today's semifinals of the US$150,000 A King Asia Cup championships at the Senayan Indoor Tennis Stadium.

Indonesia beat Chinese Taipei 2-1 to win group A, while Malaysia won 2-1 against South Korea to win group B.

Indonesia's first singles Indra Wijaya unexpectedly had to work hard to overcome Chinese Taipei's Chang Jeng Shyuang in the third day of the round-robin match championships before he finally won 15-10, 11-15, 15-0.

Indra, world-ranked fourth, was left behind 2-9 before he was finally able to score 6-10. With about 400 spectators throwing their weight behind him, Indra concluded the first set in 15-10.

In the second set, Chang surprisingly led 7-1. Both shuttlers had to over the serve 10 times before the score turned 8-2.

Indra was able to earn 6-9 before Chang earned another two points. But the 23-year-old shuttler was able to equal the score 11-11.

Unfortunately, Indra spoiled everything when he made many unforced errors in the deciding points and lost 11-15.

In the deciding set, Indra found no trouble in ending the match 15-0 and gave Indonesia its first point 1-0.

"In the second set, I was too afraid to hit the bird hard because of the wind. In the first and the second set, my rhythm was a little bit slow and I tried to make it faster in the third set," said Indra, who had prepared to meet Taipei's No. 1 Fung Permadi.

"Chang played well. His defense and his tactics are good," he added.

Indra declined to say that he underestimated Chang, since he had prepared to meet Fung.

"No, I don't underestimate him at all. I'm ready to play really hard," he said.

Indonesia's pair of Chandra Wijaya/Tony Gunawan eliminated Huang Shih Chung/Chien Yu Hsun 15-6, 15-7.

Second singles Jeffer Rosobin lost to Chien Yu Hsiu 15-10, 9- 15 and 7-15.

Malaysia, which played without world-ranked fifth Ong Ewe Hock, surprisingly beat South Korea 2-1.

First singles Pang Chen was able to overcome Park Soon-Woo 15- 12, 15-3.

Malaysia's team manager Siva Raddy said he was not surprised to see Pang win against Park. He said Ong did not play because he was suffering from a slight headache.

"To win against Korea meets our expectations. Ong's absence is not our strategy. He's not feeling well and that's the reason for not fielding him," he said.

Siva said he still had no idea if Ong could play today or not.

"If Ong is healthy, he'll be our first singles. But I still can't say about the second singles," he said.

South Korea's team manager Kim Young-man said Park was not in top condition, but he hoped his shuttler would be better today.

"If we meet Indonesia, I think the score will be 2-1 or 3-0 for Indonesia. Our first singles may be equal in quality, but Indonesia's second singles and doubles are better," he said.

Coach Indra Gunawan said he would consider either Indra or Budi as the first singles.

"We may rely on our doubles and second singles," said Gunawan, who expected to meet Korea in today's semifinals.

Private-owned SCTV station will air the semifinals matches live from 11.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. (yan)

Results

Group A:

Indonesia vs Chinese Taipei 2-1: Indra Wijaya vs Chang Jeng Shyuang 15-10, 11-15, 15-0; Chandra Wijaya/Tony Gunawan vs Huang Shih Chung/ Chien Yu Hsun 15-6, 15-7; Jeffer Rosobin vs Chien Yu Hsiu 15-10, 9-15, 7-15

India vs Thailand 2-1: Gopi Chand vs Natapol Sarawan 15-11, 15-1; Jaseel P Ismail/Vijaydeep Singh vs Pramote Teerawiwatana/Kitipon Kitikul 4-15, 8-15; Sidarth Jain vs Anupharb Teeraratsakul 15-1, 15-4

Group B:

Malaysia vs South Korea 2-1: Pang Chen vs Park Sung-woo 15-12, 15-3; Tan Kim Her/Lee Wan Wah vs Lee Dong-soo/Yoo Young-sun 12-15, 11-15; Wong Choong Hann vs Han Dong Shing 15-7, 15-10

Japan vs Hong Kong 2-1: Takahiro Suka vs Tam Kai Chuen 4-15, 9-15; Shinji Ohta/Takuya Takehana vs Ma Che Kong/Show Kim Man 15-7, 15-12; Yuzo Kubota vs Yau Kwun Tuen 10-15, 18-17, 15-3