Indonesia on the verge of reclaiming Thomas Cup glory
KUNSHAN: Once the giants of the game, Indonesia are on the verge of reclaiming their place at the top of the badminton world when they face Denmark in the Thomas Cup final here Sunday.
The most successful team in the history of the Thomas Cup with 13 victories, Indonesia overcame an early setback to defeat South Korea 3-1 on the semifinals. Denmark on the other hand booked their place after coming from behind to edge Malaysia 3-2.
Indonesia, powered by a mixed blend of young and experienced players, have proven to be the team to watch here.
In the semis, rising youngster Christie Jonatan who has turned in dinner smashing performances however dropped the first point, going down to 10-21, 16-21 to Son Wan-ho. But that did little to l affect the team's morale.
Mohamad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan hauled Indonesia back on track with a masterful display of attacking badminton against world No 1 Lee Yong-dae-Yoo Yeon-seong in the first doubles for a 21-15, 21-12 win.
Ginting Anthony then took care of Lee Dong-keun in the second singles, winning 21-18, 21-18 before Angga Pratama-Ricky Karanda Suwardi completed the score with a 21-15, 21-18 win and a place in the final.
Denmark, the European champions, who knocked out defending champions Japans in the in the quarter-finals, charged back to outdo the Malaysians.Will
Malaysia looked like they were on the way through after winning the first singles through Datuk Lee Chong Wei and the first doubles through Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong.
World No 2 and team skipper Chong Wei put Malaysia ahead with a 23-21, 21-18 win over Viktor Axeslsen in 54 minutes. This was followed by an impressive 21-18, 21-18 win by V Shem-Wee Kiong over Mathias Boe-Mads Conrad -Petersen in the first doubles.
Then in a complete turnaround Malaysia succumbed to nerves and pressure when Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin was not able to deliver in the second singles against Hans-Kristian Vittinghus. The national champion's 21-18, 21-18 defeat – his first in Kunshan – had a domino effect on Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong.
The privateers took the first set 21-10 against Denmark's scratch pair Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen. However, it woke up the Danes who came back strongly to win the next two sets 21-8, 21-13 which left the tie to be decided in the third singles.
It was simply not Chong Wei Feng's game against Emil Holst and the Malaysian hope crumbled to a 21-15, 21-18 defeat in 51 minutes – leaving the Malaysian camp stunned.
In the Uber Cup defending champions China will take on Korea in this year's final. In the semi-finals on Friday the Chinese were too strong for India and romped to a 3-0 win while the Koreans defeated Japan 3-1.
SEMI-FINAL RESULTS Thomas Cup
Indonesia beat South Korea 3-1
Singles
Christie Jonatan lost to Son Wan-ho 10-21, 16-21
Ginting Anthony beat Lee Dong-keun 21-18, 21-18
Doubles
Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan beat Lee Yong-dae-Yoo Yeon-seong 21-15, 21-12
Angga Pratama-Rickey Karanda Suwardi beat Kim Gi-jung-Kim Sa-rang 21-15, 21-18
Denmark beat Malaysia 3-2
Singles
Viktor Axelsen lost to Lee Chong Wei 21-23, 18-21
Hans-Kristian Vittinghus beat Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin 21-18, 21-18
Emil Holst beat Chong Wei Feng 21-15, 21-18
Doubles
Mathias Boe-Mads Conrad-Petersen lost to Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kion 18-21, 18=21
Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen beat Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong 10-21, 21-8, 21-13
UBER CUP
China beat India 3-0
Singles
Li Xuerui beat Saina Nehwal 21-15, 12-21, 21-17
Wang Shixian beat P.V. Sindhu 21-13, 23-21
Doubles
Tiang Qing-Zhao Yunlei beat Jwala Gutta-Sikki Reddy Nelakurihi 21-6, 21-6
South Korea beat Japan 3-1
Singles
Sung Ji-hyun beat Nozomi Okuhara 21-13, 21-13
Bae Yeon-ju lost to Akane Yamaguchi 17-21, 7-9 (rtd)
Doubles
Jung Kyung-eun-Shin Seung-chan beat Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi 21-19. 15-21, 21-16
Chang Ye-na-Lee So-hee beat Naoko Fukuman-Karumi Yanao 21-15, 21-14
