RI reaches quarterfinals, meets Malaysia
RI reaches quarterfinals, meets Malaysia
Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta
Indonesia will meet archrival Malaysia in the 2004 Thomas Cup
men's team badminton championship quarterfinals after the home
team crushed New Zealand 3-0 in Tuesday's playoff.
Malaysia automatically entered the quarters after winning two
matches against Thailand and newcomer South Africa 5-0 each in
Group C.
The Indonesian girls also managed to reach the quarters by
defeating Germany 3-0 and will now challenge second seeded South
Korea, which topped group Z by overwhelming Australia and Canada
5-0 each.
In the one-sided match on Tuesday, the Kiwis posed little
challenge against the Indonesians, unlike Monday's 5-0 loss to
the Chinese.
Sony Dwi Kuncoro was barely sweating after thrashing New
Zealander John Moody 15-3, 15-2 in the first singles match.
Changing the line up by fielding Simon Santoso as the second
singles -- to replace Taufik Hidayat who was reported to the
police on Monday over "unpleasant conduct" -- the 18-year-old
Indonesian did not have any trouble defeating Geoffrey Bellingham
15-3, 15-2.
Doubles team of Luluk Hadiyanto/Alven Yulianto were far too
fast for New Zealand's pair of Daniel Shirley and John Gordon and
won 15-5, 15-8.
South Africa -- which managed to battle its way into the
championships following the International Badminton Federation
(IBF) new rules to enable representatives of each continent in
the biennial event -- bowed out to Japan in the playoffs 3-0.
Japan will now take on badminton powerhouse China, which topped
Group A after crushing Indonesia and the United States 5-0 each.
Thailand defeated England 3-1 to meet South Korea in the
quarters. Thailand's first singles player Boonsak Polsana had to
play a third set to win over England's Aamir Ghafar 13-15, 15-13,
15-11.
"I wasn't very confident that I would win because I have a
personal problem. It's good that I finally won," Polsana told The
Jakarta Post after the game.
World number 11 pair Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark evened
the score by beating the Thai duo of Pramote Teerawiwatana and
Tesana Panvisvas 6-15, 15-9, 10-15.
Thirayu Laohathaimongkol of Thailand beat England's third
singles Andrew South 15-11, 15-6 while doubles pair Sudket
Prapakamol and Patapol Ngernsrisuk ensured a Thai victory by
defeating Robert Blair and David Lindley 17-14, 15-9.
Lindley was warned by the umpire for throwing his racket out
of frustration.
As for the Uber Cup team, Indonesia's first singles Silvi
Antarini won 11-6, 13-11 over Xu Huaiwen of Germany, followed by
second singles Maria Kristin victory over Juliene Schenk 11-8, 1-
11, 11-4.
Germany's third singles Nicole Grether surrendered to
Firdasari 11-7, 11-8, giving Indonesia a 3-0 victory over
Germany.
Malaysia's Uber Cup team also won 3-0 over Australia paving
the way to the quarterfinals. It will play against defending
champion China on Wednesday. The Netherlands also won 3-0 over
the South Africans to face Denmark in the quarterfinals.
Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Netherlands -- which beat
Canada 3-0 and will now meet Chinese Taipei -- all move on to the
quarters.