RI meets S.Korea in badminton men's team final

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Busan, South Korea

Indonesia will meet host South Korea at the final of the men's team badminton event after defeating badminton powerhouse China 3-1 at the Gangseo Gymnasium in the Gangseo Sports Park on Monday evening.

First singles Taufik Hidayat contributed the first point for Indonesia after defeating Chinese junior shuttler Lin Dan.

Taufik scored 15-11 in the first game amid massive support from Indonesian supporters.

In the second game, however, Taufik found several difficulties and let Lin Dan lead in the scoring race before closing the match 17-15.

Second stringer Rony Agustinus, however, was the weak point of the Indonesian team

Chinese Xia Xuanze took the remaining two sets 15-9, 15-8.

Being tied 1-1, the Indonesian position was again under threat when Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto had to work hard winning their first doubles match against Liu Yong and Zhang Jun.

The Indonesians won the first game 15-8 but had to relinquish the second game 13-15.

Giving it their best, the 1997 world champions won the deciding game 15-7 allowing Indonesia to take a 2-1 lead.

Second doubles of Halim Heryanto and Tri Kusheryanto clinched Indonesia's victory, gunning down Zhang Wei and Chen Qiqiu 15-9, 15-9.

"We will field our best team for the final. You can see that our players have proven their quality," Indonesian team manager Christian Hadinata told reporters after the match.

Chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI), Chairul Tanjung, told reporters that the victory against China was a historic one proving that Indonesia was the real champion.

"Many people felt that our Thomas Cup victory (early this year) was incomplete because we did not meet China in any stage.

"But now our shuttlers have beaten the Chinese," he said.

Indonesia defeated Denmark and Malaysia on its way to grab the coveted Thomas Cup. That left only South Korea to be beaten.

In the other semifinals, the Malaysians failed to cruise to the final in an attempt for a rematch of the men's team Thomas Cup held in May in Guangzhou, China.

The Malaysians failed to show their quality of being Thomas Cup finalists and surrendered easily 0-3 to the hosts.

The final match is slated on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Busan time or 2 p.m. Jakarta time.

In a separate development, Indonesian honorary consul in Busan, Kim Soo-il told The Jakarta Post that he would support the Indonesian team instead of the South Koreans.

"I am indeed a Korean but I am also the Indonesian honorary consul.

"My position requires me to support the Indonesian team," he said.

Kim, who is also dean of graduate studies at Pusan University of Foreign Studies, has organized and arranged teams of supporters for Indonesian athletes consisting of local residents, especially those who have had connections with Indonesia.

It seemed to be a happy day for the host as it had also secured a final berth for the women's team after defeating Thailand.

South Korea will rely on its home crowd to challenge world women's badminton giant China who defeated its "sister" Hong Kong.