South Korea to challenge China in Uber Cup final
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.