Yoe Hok says

Yoe Hok says
double within
nation's grasp

JAKARTA (JP): Former badminton great Tan Joe Hok, who was a
key player on the Indonesian team that won the Thomas Cup for the
first time way back in 1958, is confident that Indonesia will
notch a memorable double this year by winning both the Thomas and
Uber Cups.

"Barring unforeseen circumstances the Thomas Cup is as good as
Indonesia's," he told newsmen yesterday.

Indonesia is set to meet cup holder and nemesis Malaysia in
Saturday's final, after its whipping of South Korea last night.

Tan, 57, said Malaysia, which defeated China 4-1 on Tuesday,
will pose no problem to the Indonesian squad.

"The Malaysians will field the same line-up that beat China
simply because they do not have other good players to pick," he
said.

Indonesia lost to Malaysia 2-3 in the 1992 final in Kuala
Lumpur. "But this time around the Malaysians will hit rock-bottom
as Joko Suprianto and company will gain sweet revenge for the
Kuala Lumpur loss," said Tan, who bears the considerable
distinction of being the first Indonesian player to win the
prestigious All-England men's singles title, in 1959.

Tan was equally upbeat about Indonesia's chances to lift the
Uber Cup for the first time in 19 years.

"I think Indonesia's current Uber Cup team is one of the
strongest we have ever had," he assessed.

He said on paper defending champion China should beat
Indonesia in Friday's final. "But Indonesia stands a realistic
chance of toppling the Chinese. This is all the more so as we
have the edge of playing at home."

He said nobody bet on Indonesia against South Korea in
Tuesday's semifinals. "But Susi and teammates shrugged off the
odds by beating the Koreans 4-1."

Contrary to the opinions of many pundits that crowd support
will be a vital factor which could mean the difference between
winning and losing, Tan said the role of thousands of cheering
spectators does not always help a player raise his or her game.

"During my playing days I never paid much attention to either
the cheers or the jeers of the spectators," he said.

Tan, however, expressed hope that the Senayan crowds will not
become unruly in supporting the Indonesian players in the finals.

"I would like to see the Indonesian teams win their matches
fair and square without any accusations that the excessive crowd
support plays a big role in our victories," he said.

Happy

On a separate occasion, Malaysian team manager Punch Gunalan
said he is happy that his team will start out as the underdog
against Indonesia, which is the odds-on favorite.

"Even though were are the defending champions, our players
will step onto the court without any mental pressure because we
are not expected to win," he said. "The pressure will be on the
Indonesians."

Gunalan said his side was also rated as the underdog before it
met China on Tuesday.

"Nobody expected us to win. But we proved the doubting
Thomases wrong as Rashid Sidek and company rose to the challenge
splendidly by beating China 4-1," he said. "We all know who Joko
Suprianto and teammates are, but we will not relinquish the
Thomas Cup without a fight."

Gunalan said his players would not be ruffled by the
boisterous and intimidating boos and jeers expected to be
showered on the Malaysians by the fiercely partisan home crowd.
"It will be good for us. The more the crowds jeer at us the
higher our morale will be," he said. (hdj/amd/bas)