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Thailand upsets China in Asia Cup day 1
May 03, 2001 - Source : IBF
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The Thais might have been last minute participants of this third Asia Cup due to India’s withdrawal, but they surprised China 2/1 in theng day of the team event.
"We were prepared to play anyhow, because we expected to send our players to an Asian Satellite tournament held at home," said Thai coach Udom. "But then, when India was called out of the event, I told my team to just go for it and do their best. We knew that all matches were going to be tough, and I certainly didn’t expect us to win against China," added the delighted coach.
The first match of the tie was the biggest upset of the day overall, when world number 82 Boonsak Polsana beat Chen Hong – recent All England runner up and currently ranked number 4. Quite a surprise on paper, but the Thai had already beaten the tall Chinese the last time they had met, in the preliminary rounds of the Thomas Cup in India last year. And once again, Polsana was able to counter Chen’s attacking game, to eventually win 17/15 – 8/15 – 15/4. After this unexpected victory, Thailand''s hopes relied on their very strong doubles. "If we had a chance to win, it should have been one point in singles, one in doubles," said Udom.
Zhang Wei and Zhang Jun, however, had a terrific third game against Pramote Teerawiwatana and Tesana Panvisvas, winning 15/3 to put both teams even before the deciding match. Chen Yu was also a last minute participant, as he replaced compatriot Xiao Hui. But the young Chinese fell to an impressive Anupap Thiraratsakul, ranked 90 in the world, who played an incredible 3 gamer to give his team the final victory.
"Our target was to prevent finishing last in the group, and now we could be playing to get into the semi-final" said Udom. "Yet tomorrow’s (Thursday) match will be another tough one as Malaysia is amongst the best teams in the world".
Malaysia had quite an easy tie against Japan. Both Ong Ewe Hock and Yock Hong Kin won in two games while Chew and Chan outplayed Masuda and Otshuka, to become leaders of this group B.
But the public’s eyes were turned toward court 1, where the host team of Singapore was facing top seeds and title holders of this Asia Cup, Indonesia. And what was supposed to be an easy tie, almost became a nightmare for Indonesia, in an all "Wijaya family affair": Candra Wijaya was to play for Indonesia, of course, with partner Sigit Budiarto, but Singapore had placed his hopes on second singles Indra Wijaya who is Candra’s older brother. And the odd thing is that there was another family member involved in this tie : Ronald Susilo, Singapore first single player is Candra Wijaya’s brother in law, after the Indonesian married Ronald’s sister, Caroline. "It makes it very difficult for me to play this tie, but while we are on court, we act as professionals and we do our job. There is no family, just an opponent to beat " said Candra Wijaya.
Ronald Susilo was only a promising player last year, when he was picked to be one of the World Academy participants in Cape Town. Yet, his level of play has improved so much that the young former Indonesian gave a lot of trouble to Taufik Hidayat in Singapore. After two incredible games which went to overtime, Susilo led 13/7 in the third. "All was going well until then. We have the same style of play, and I tried to keep the shuttle down as much as I could and tried to be patient. But then, when I led 13/7, with the wind on my side, I tried to kill the points too quickly," said Susilo. And the Singaporean started to make unforced errors. "I thought I would lose at this point, but his mistakes put me back into the game, and I then tried to lift up the shuttle," said Hidayat.
The peak of suspense came at the very end, when a shuttle for a 16/14 lead for Taufik was called in, and then out by one of the line judges. The young Indonesian threw his racket which landed 50 meters away on the next court and sat on the advertising panels. After the play restarted, Susilo saved another two match points to catch up 16/16, with a key match point in his hands. But he wasn’t able to convert them and Hidayat walked out with the final victory.
"I think that he has more experience at high level than I do, and this made the difference today" said Susilo "but I feel very disappointed not to have won for my country. In the other hand, such a match gives me a lot of confidence for the next few days and the World Championships," he added.
After Budiarto and Wijaya made a formality out of the men’s doubles, Indra Wijaya put Hendrawan in danger, pushing the Olympic silver medallist to a tight three gamer. On the paper, Indonesia won 3/0, but on court, what a demonstration of will and talent by the Singaporean players… A good hint for next matches, especially against Korea, which won easily its tie against Hong Kong, 3/0.
Results from Day 1:
Indonesia beat Singapore : 3/0
Hidayat bt Susilo (SIN) : 16/17 – 17/14 – 17/16
Wijaya/Budiarto (INA) bt Lau/Santosa (SIN) : 15/10 – 15/7
Hendrawan (INA) bt Wijaya (SIN) : 8/15 – 15/11 – 15/11
Korea beat Hong Kong : 3/0
Lee (KOR) bt Agus (HKG) : 15/12 – 15/9
Yoo/Lee (KOR) bt Liu / Njoto (HKG) : 15/7 – 15/10
Shon (KOR) bt Tam (HKG) : 15/9 – 15/3
Malaysia beat Japan : 3/0
Ong (MAS) bt Yamada (JPN) : 17/15 – 15/3
Chang/Chew (MAS) bt Masuda/T.Ohtsuka (JPN) : Yong (MAS) bt S. Ohtsuka (JPN) : 15/9 – 15/4
Thailand beat China : 2/1
Ponsana (THA) bt Chen Hong (CHN) : 17/15 – 8/15 – 15/4
Zhang/Zhang (CHN) bt Teerawiwanatana/Panvisvas (THA) : 15/6 – 12/15 – 15/3
Thiraratsakul (THA) bt Chen Yu (CHN) : 14/17 – 15/12 – 15/12 |
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