South Korea to challenge China in Uber Cup final

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Guangzhou, China

Host and defending champion China cleared its path to the final stage of the women's team Uber Cup after defeating Hong Kong with a clean sweep victory of 3-0 in a one-sided match at Guangzhou's Tianhe Sports Center on Wednesday.

South Korea also cruised to the final after a more lively match against the new powerhouse the Netherlands through a hard- fought 3-2 win. The final is on Saturday evening.

Chinese first singles Zhou Mi defeated former compatriot Wang Chen 7-0, 7-2, 7-5 at the first match.

Gong Ruina also won her match against Ling Wan Ting. But the Hong Kong-based shuttler managed to take the third game before squandering 7-0, 7-0, 4-7, 7-1 to set the score 2-0 for China after the second match.

China sealed its victory when third singles Dai Yun beat Louisa Wai Chee Koon 7-2, 7-0, 7-2.

The early victory meant that the remaining two doubles matches between Gao Ling and Huang Sui against Li Wing Mui and Ling and between Yang Wei and Huang Nanyan versus Koon and Wang Chen did not have to be played.

South Korea overcame its early jinx before beating the Netherlands at the first semifinals match earlier in the day.

First singles Mia Audian Tjiptawan fought from behind before beating Kim Kyeung-ran 2-3.

Mia, who was part of the Indonesian Uber Cup team three times in 1994 until 1998, lost the first two games 4-7, 5-7.

Indonesian-born Mia got her second wind to win the remaining three games convincingly 7-3, 7-0, 7-0.

South Korea equalized the point 1-1 when Lee Kyung-won defeated Judith Meulendijks in the second match 3-1. Lee won the first game 7-2 but lost the second 2-7 when Meulendijks held her ground with accurate drives and shot placements. Lee then took the commanding lead and quickened the players' pace to win 7-2, 7-3.

The Dutch chalked up another lead when the second doubles of Mia and Lotte Jonathans defeated Ra Kyung-min and Kim Kyeung-ran 3-1 in the third match.

Mia and Jonathans took the first lead by winning 7-3, 7-5 but failed to win it in a straight set as the Koreans took the third game 8-6. The Dutch team secured a 2-1 lead with a 7-5 win.

Third singles Kwon Hee-sook defeated Brenda Beenhakker to level the tie 2-2 at the fourth match with a 3-1 win.

Kwon won the first two games 7-5, 7-4 but gave the third 4-7 to Beenhakker. Kwon prolonged Korea's chances for semifinals with a 7-3 win in the fourth game.

In the decider, Lee Hyo-jung and Hwang Yu-mi crushed the Dutchwomen's dream for their first ever appearance at the final stage of the Uber Cup by outclassing Meulendijks and Karina de Wit 7-5, 7-0, 8-6.

South Korean manager Kim Dong-soo said he was under amazing pressure as their hopes to get the points from the first singles and second doubles matches were dashed when the Netherlands kept the points.

"We luckily had better shuttlers in the other three matches and managed to win the semifinals."

"As for the final match, China has a better chance to win and defend the Uber Cup," he said.

Meanwhile, Martin van Doormollen said he was pleased with the Dutch team although it failed to reach the final stage.

"It is such an honor for a little country to reach the semifinals stage of such a big event," he said.

Thursday will see the first semifinals match of the men's team in the Thomas Cup between host China and Malaysia.

Defending champion Indonesia is set to face Denmark at the second semifinals on Friday. Indonesia is aiming to make history by holding the coveted Thomas Cup for five times consecutively.

Private television channel Trans TV will air both the Thomas Cup semifinals matches at 6:30 p.m. Jakarta time.