Welcome Guest   |  Login   |   Signup
JG Logo
Fri, February 10, 2012
Archive Search

Indonesian Shuttlers Dominate Aussies
Ami Afriatni | May 09, 2010

Taufik Hidayat began Indonesia’s long road to Thomas Cup glory with a 21-12, 21-12 defeat of Australia’s Jeff Tho. The Thomas and Uber Cups kicked off in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday and run through May 16. (AFP Photo/Saeed Khan) Taufik Hidayat began Indonesia’s long road to Thomas Cup glory with a 21-12, 21-12 defeat of Australia’s Jeff Tho. The Thomas and Uber Cups kicked off in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday and run through May 16. (AFP Photo/Saeed Khan)
Share This Page
0
0
0
0
Share with google+ :


Post a comment
Please login to post comment

Comments

Be the first to write your opinion!

Kuala Lumpur. Though both of its teams managed 5-0 victories over Australia, Indonesia had to struggle in its Thomas and Uber Cup finals openers on Sunday.

Maria Febe Kusumastuti rallied from 11-7 down to win 21-13, 21-5 against Leanne Choo at Bukit Jalil Sports Complex, while top men’s doubles pair Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan encountered unexpected resistance before beating Ross Smith and Glenn Warfe 21-14, 24-22.

“[Choo] gave me difficulties at first with her left-handed play and front-line defense,” world No. 19 Febe said. “But I handled it by managing a series of accurate shuttlecock placements in the back side.”

Febe likely cannot afford a similarly slow start when Indonesia takes on European champion Denmark on Tuesday. She will face Kamilla Sorenson, who replaced Tine Rasmussen at No. 1 singles after the All England champion injured her leg.

“I’ve never met [Sorenson] before, but I am sure I can win,” Febe said.

The rest of Indonesia’s Uber Cup squad also won in straight sets. Greysia Polii and Nitya Krishinda Maheswari beat Renuga Veeran and Tang He Tian 21-16, 21-11, and Adriyanti Firdasari defeated Erica Pong 21-12, 21-5 to clinch victory.

Liliyana Natsir and Shendy Puspa Irawati won the first of the dead rubbers 21-13, 21-11 over Kate Wilson-Smith and Eugenia Tanaka. Maria Kristin Yulianti sealed the sweep with a 21-6, 21-13 win over Chia Chi Huang at No. 3 singles.

Taufik Hidayat got the Indonesian men off on the right foot with a 21-12, 21-12 victory over Jeff Tho at No. 1 singles before Markis and Hendra hit the court.

“We failed to gear up our attacks in the critical points of the second game,” Markis said.

Simon Santoso, who played No. 2 singles in place of Sony Dwi Kuncoro, made it 3-0 after beating Chad Whitehead 21-13, 21-4. Nova Widianto and Mohammad Ahsan saw off Tho and Raj Veeran in 18 minutes, winning 21-13, 21-6, and newcomer Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka wrapped up the sweep by beating Stuart Gomez 21-12, 21-10.

“We expected to lose 5-0,” Australia’s Danish coach Lasse Bundgaard told Agence France-Presse. “We did OK, [but] it was a difficult match for us. This is a learning experience for us.”

Australia, which made its first appearance at this stage, notched another first by fielding Malaysia-born Raj and Renuga Veeran, the first brother-sister pair to feature at the finals.

It was not all smooth sailing for Indonesia, though, as press reports in Malaysia suggested disunity in the camp.

Prior to Sunday’s matches, the New Straits Times newspaper reported Sony saying morale was at an all-time low because of the presence of independent professional players in the squad.

“In terms of preparation, it has been bad,” he was quoted as saying. “The team are not united.”

Men’s team manager Jacob Rusdianto told reporters Sony was rested to give younger shuttlers a chance to play, adding, “I believe what has appeared in some of the local dailies is not true. I don’t think my player said what has been written.”