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News / RI team takes hope after China defeat
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16.05.2010 at 04:42
Indonesia’s squad for the Thomas Cup men’s badminton championship, that faces China on Sunday’s final, has taken inspiration from South Korea’s shock defeat of China in the final of the women’s Uber Cup on Saturday.
China has claimed the biennial Thomas Cup consecutively since 2004, but China’s women, who lost 3-1 to South Korea on Saturday’s final, had held the Uber cup since 1998.
But South Korea defied all of the odds by beating China 3-1 in the final to win the trophy for the first time.
Indonesian Thomas Cup squad manager Yacob Rusdianto said South Korea’s victory, would “surely boost our morale. It shows that nothing is really impossible, after all. With our burning spirit, hopefully we can follow in Korea’s path tomorrow by beating China.”
He admitted Indonesia would be the underdog in the final, but added that there might be some surprises on the cards.
“[Indonesia’s] first doubles pair [Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan] will need to secure a point, and
the decider would then be in the hands of the second doubles team,” Yacob said.
World number three doubles team Markis and Hendra said they were looking forward to playing against their “favorite” rivals — world number eight pair Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng.
“We like playing fast, just like them. So, we’re upbeat about meeting them. We haven’t played against them for a while,” said Hendra, who with Markus won gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, beating Cai and Fu in the final.
Indonesia’s first singles player Taufik Hidayat, who won gold in Athens in 2004, was also optimistic about the tie.
“My responsibility is my motivation to play all out. It doesn’t scare me off,” said the 29-year-old world number five singles player, who is playing at his sixth Thomas Cup, on the sidelines of a training session at the BSC Sports Club in Selangor, Malaysia, on Saturday.
“Whether I’m playing an opener or a deciding match, it’s all the same to me,” he said.
Taufik played the deciding match of the Thomas Cup in 2000, when he wrapped up a 3-0 victory against China. Taufik, who was debuting for Indonesia at the cup that year, defeated Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medalist Ji Xin Peng 15-9, 15-14.
However, Taufik said Indonesia’s squad in that year was stronger than this year’s. “Today, our team is good, but back in 2000 we had more choices of players in singles and doubles, all of whom topped the numerous Chinese players.”
As Indonesia’s first singles player, Taufik will face world number two singles player Lin Dan, who is competing at his fourth Thomas Cup.
Taufik has won just five of his 17 encounters with the 26-year-old Lin. His victories came at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, at the 2005 World Championships in the Unites States, at the 2005 Singapore Open Super Series and at the 2004 Indonesia Open Super Series. Last year, Taufik lost his latest duel against Lin at the French Open Super Series.
With Sony Dwi Kuncoro, who injured his back during a group match, unlikely to play, Simon Santoso and debutant Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka will face Chinese second and third singles players Bao Chun Lai and Chen Jin.
“It’s tough with Sony having the injury. Simon and Hayom are technically on par with Sony, but Sony has the experience,” said men’s singles coach Agus Dwi Santoso.
Simon has never beaten Bao or Chen, and Hayom lost to Chen 16-21, 21-19, 20-22 at this year’s All England Super Series.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/05/16/ri-team-takes-hope-after-china-defeat.html
