China makes semis after Indonesia fright
Source: AFP |
May 24, 2013, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
DEFENDING champion China had to dig deep to avoid a surprise defeat to Indonesia, winning 3-2 yesterday in the quarterfinals of the Sudirman Cup.
Two days after whipping its arch rival 5-0 in a group match, China, which has not lost a tie since falling 2-3 to South Korea in the 2003 final, was stunned by a determined and gallant Indonesian outfit in Kuala Lumpur.
China will play Denmark in tomorrow's semifinals after the Europeans easily defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0.
At the last Sudirman Cup two years ago, China thrashed Denmark 3-0 in the final. And Chinese supremo Li Yongbo was unperturbed.
"We have won it for so many times - eight times," the coach said after the match against Indonesia.
"I don't mind if we lose it as long as my players show their determination and fighting spirit... Sometimes it's good for other teams to win it."
Denmark coach Lars Uhre warned China to brace itself for a tough fight.
"They are not invincible. Indonesia proved that today. If we can get a good start, we stand a good chance of upsetting them," he said.
The other semifinal is between Thailand, which upset Japan 3-1 yesterday, and South Korea, which hammered Germany 3-0.
Indonesia's Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir gave the 1989 champion a dream start when they defeated the world No. 1 mixed doubles pairing of Ma Jin and Xu Chen 21-18, 14-21, 21-16.
China's Chen Long, as expected, tied the scores by beating Tommy Sugiarto 21-11, 21-15. But then Rian Agung Saputro and Angga Pratama edged Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng 19-21, 21-18, 21-15.
The Chinese women then turned on the power as Olympic champion Li Xuerui outclassed Lindaweni Fanetri 21-16, 21-13, and world champions Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli beat Liliyana Natsir and Nitya Krishinda Maheswari 21-12, 21-19.
Coach Li blamed "a few bad line calls" for the men's doubles loss though he praised the Indonesians for performing "above expectation".
Two days after whipping its arch rival 5-0 in a group match, China, which has not lost a tie since falling 2-3 to South Korea in the 2003 final, was stunned by a determined and gallant Indonesian outfit in Kuala Lumpur.
China will play Denmark in tomorrow's semifinals after the Europeans easily defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0.
At the last Sudirman Cup two years ago, China thrashed Denmark 3-0 in the final. And Chinese supremo Li Yongbo was unperturbed.
"We have won it for so many times - eight times," the coach said after the match against Indonesia.
"I don't mind if we lose it as long as my players show their determination and fighting spirit... Sometimes it's good for other teams to win it."
Denmark coach Lars Uhre warned China to brace itself for a tough fight.
"They are not invincible. Indonesia proved that today. If we can get a good start, we stand a good chance of upsetting them," he said.
The other semifinal is between Thailand, which upset Japan 3-1 yesterday, and South Korea, which hammered Germany 3-0.
Indonesia's Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir gave the 1989 champion a dream start when they defeated the world No. 1 mixed doubles pairing of Ma Jin and Xu Chen 21-18, 14-21, 21-16.
China's Chen Long, as expected, tied the scores by beating Tommy Sugiarto 21-11, 21-15. But then Rian Agung Saputro and Angga Pratama edged Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng 19-21, 21-18, 21-15.
The Chinese women then turned on the power as Olympic champion Li Xuerui outclassed Lindaweni Fanetri 21-16, 21-13, and world champions Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli beat Liliyana Natsir and Nitya Krishinda Maheswari 21-12, 21-19.
Coach Li blamed "a few bad line calls" for the men's doubles loss though he praised the Indonesians for performing "above expectation".
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
