RI team to rely on third singles

RI team to rely on third singles

JAKARTA (JP): A local sport expert expects Indonesia's semifinal Uber Cup championship clash against South Korea to be a tough battle for both countries.

"Whoever wins, the score will be 3-2," Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar predicted yesterday.

Siregar expects Indonesia will field top singles players Susi Susanti, Mia Audina and Yuliani Sentosa. The doubles will be Eliza/Zelin Resiana and Lili Tampi/Finarsih.

South Korea will continue to rely on its top player Bang Soo- hyun, Ra Kyung-min and Kim Jin-hyun in the singles. Siregar said that South Korea is still contemplating a change in its first doubles.

Both countries will rely on their third-string singles players. Indonesia will be able to grab two points from its first and second-string players, while South Korea will steal two points with its doubles team.

"If Bang loses in her first singles match, it will not affect her team much because Korea can rely on its doubles," he said, "but our team depends solely on Susi."

Siregar said that Susi, who now is 24 years old, will have difficulties beating Bang.

"Bang is only 22, but she has the same experience as Susi -- since the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Technically, Bang is better than Susi. It depends on Susi to motivate herself to win the match," he said.

Yuliani Sentosa, Indonesia's third-string singles layer, is in the unenviable position of playing the decider in the event of a 2-2 tie.

"I think Yuliani will play to her best in the first set but she will get a little bit emotional in the second set. She will probably give a point to her opponent. In the third set she has to be able to keep her stamina and concentration," Siregar observed.

Siregar is confident that Indonesia's Thomas Cup team will make it to the final.

"Of course we can beat South Korea in the semifinals. I'm sure of it," he said.

Indonesia will field Joko Suprianto, Hariyanto Arby and Alan Budikusuma in the men's singles. Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky and Antonius/Denny Kantono are the best opposition to other Asian countries, but, to face Denmark, Indonesia must field Gunawan/Bambang Suprianto in the second-string doubles. (yan)