RI stops experimenting for Uber Cup semifinal
RI stops experimenting for Uber Cup semifinal
By Arif Suryobuwono
HONG KONG (JP): Points can be expected to come from left and right in today's Uber Cup semifinal war here between Indonesia and South Korea.
The same might also be said in the case of the other semifinal pitting China and Denmark, now that world badminton powers have gained more or less equal footing in the sport.
Though South Korea may be less of a stumbling block than China, the 5-0 loss to China on Saturday has taught Indonesia not to try out any experiments.
Indonesia's training director Iwan Setiawan, who earlier said that his side's rout by China was part of his strategy, said yesterday that the best lineup is now a must against South Korea, which will be eying a revenge for its 1-4 semifinal loss in Jakarta two years ago.
It means that Susi Susanti, Mia Audina and Yuliani Sentosa will definitely play singles and the country's seasoned pairs of Eliza/Zelin Resiana and Lili Tampi/Finarsih the doubles matches.
The semifinal match between Indonesia and South Korea will be on RCTI live today, starting from 17.30 Indonesia Western Time Zone.
Indonesian coach Imelda Wiguna, a specialist in training the country's women's doubles, dismissed any possibility of letting debutant Deyana Lomban play in the semifinals. "We just do not risk a defeat," Imelda said.
"If they (the two top pairs) manage to keep their cool, they will win," Imelda added.
Another Indonesian coach, Retno Kustiyah, said that she won't risk giving the third singles place to newcomer Lidya Djaelawijaya. "After all, Yuliani is more experienced than Lidya," Retno said.
South Korean head coach Kim Jong-soo said that Susi and his top singles charge Bang Soo-hyun stand equal chance of beating each other. The same will be true for the second singles players, Mia or Kim Ji-hyun.
A confident Kim Jong-soo said that winning the third and perhaps decisive singles match is beyond question. "Any Indonesia's third singles player is particularly weaker than our player Ra Kyun-min," he said.
Kim added that he expected a point from his world number two doubles pair of Gil Young-ah and Jang Hye-ock. "But Indonesia's second doubles team of Lili Tampi and Finarsih may be too strong for any combination of ours," he said.
Doubles
Imelda said China's world number one partnership of Ge Fei and Gu Jun is more versatile than the Korean ace combination of Gil and Jang. "The Chinese have more difficult shuttlecock placing to anticipate, although the South Koreans look far fitter for a long game," Imelda said.
Indonesia has also anticipated South Korea's tricky experiment by fielding unusual pairings, according to Imelda.
Susi, who expects to meet old nemesis Bang in today's clash, said that she and Bang know each other well. "We are of the same generation," said Susi, who plans to marry her boy friend Alan Budikusuma next year.
Susi hailed Bang for her persistence, compared to world number one Ye Zhaoying's sharp shots. "But Bang is more stable than Ye. Ye can play very, very badly when she is out of her form, but Bang has never done that," Susi added.
Susi fell to the South Korean world number two in the All- England semifinals in their last encounter last March.
Mia, the heroine in Indonesia's 1994 Uber Cup victory on home soil, expects to take revenge in the second singles match for her two losses to Kim Ji-hyun.
"If Mia is at her best, I believe it will be easy for her to beat Kim," coach Retno said.
The only worry that Retno has is that Mia, due to her knee injury, has yet to regain full speed. It was very apparent when she was trounced by Ye Zhaoying in the group rubber last Saturday.
Today's fixtures
Uber Cup: South Korea v Indonesia China v Denmark