Spicy contests expected in RI's Uber Cup matches
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Guangzhou, China
The morale of Indonesian women's shuttlers rose when they learned that the Netherlands would not be able to field one of its strongest singles players at the 2002 Uber Cup final here. But the challenges are by no means less daunting.
The Netherlands, set to meet Indonesia on Saturday, earlier drafted Indonesian-born world No. 3 Mia Audina Tjiptawan, Yao Jie and Judith Meulendiks in the singles. Yao recently grabbed the women's singles title at the European Badminton Championships at the expense of her compatriot, Mia.
This time, however, the Dutch will not field second singles Yao as she did not show up here due to problems with Chinese immigration.
"We were informed by the Badminton Association of China two weeks ago that Yao Jie is not allowed to enter China," said team manager Martin van Doormollen.
"We don't know what the problem is. We will try to find out and maybe we can solve it while we are here.
"Of course it is disappointing not to have Yao here, but we are still confident that we will reach good results here," he said.
The Dutch team now has to rely on Brenda Beenhakker, as the third singles Meulendiks has been promoted to second singles. Meanwhile, the doubles shuttlers are Karina de Wit, Lonneke Janssen, Lotte Jonathans, Maartje Verheul and Eva Krab.
Indonesia is together with Netherlands in Uber Cup's Group A, which also includes Hong Kong and Denmark.
Group B comprises defending champion China, Japan, newcomer Germany and South Korea.
Indonesia's first opponent in the Uber Cup, Hong Kong, just arrived on Tuesday, and is expecting a hard match between the two countries on Thursday.
"I think the chance is 60-40 or at least 55-45 for Indonesia as we have weak doubles pairs," coach Chan Chi Choi said.
"In fact, all matches in our group are hard. We cannot take any country for granted," he added.
Hong Kong relies heavily on former Chinese player Wang Chen and Louisa Wai Chee Koon in the singles. Both will team up and form a considerable strong doubles pair.
Hong Kong beat Indonesia at the qualifying round in Melbourne, Australia, but Chan played down the significance.
"Indonesia already secured a ticket to Guangzhou back then. So it was not important anymore for Indonesia to top the group as any result would do," he said.
Indonesia's leading singles, Lidya Djaelawidjaja, has yet to perform her best against Hong Kong's world No. 8 Wang Chen.
"It is difficult for me to take a point from Wang Chen. I hope we can take an early lead in our second and third singles against Hong Kong," she said, referring to 2001 Indonesian Open winner Ellen Angelina and second stringer Yuli Marfuah.
The Indonesian team then expects a third point from first doubles of Deyana Lomban and Vita Marissa. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's second doubles of Wang Chen and Louisa Wai is expected to overcome Indonesia's second singles of second stringers Jo Novita and Eny Erlangga.
Indonesia's toughest opponent is probably Denmark, with world No. 3 Camilla Martin back on the court after suffering hip problems.
Other singles players are Tine Rasmussen, Christina B Sorensen, Anne Marie Pedersen and Tine Hoy. Denmark is relying on its doubles Rikke Olsen, Ann-Lou Jorgensen, Pernille Harder, Jane Bramsen and Mette Schjoldager.
Indonesia is set to face Denmark on Monday.