RI Uber team survives first day test in Macau

The Indonesian Uber Cup team secured a solid victory in the first day of the Thomas and Uber Cup preliminaries round in Macau on Monday, thrashing Sri Lanka 5-0 to earn one point in Group Y.

Indonesia’s first singles athlete, Maria Febe Kusumastuti, in the Uber Cup preliminaries opened a clear path for the rest of her team by beating Renu Chandrika Hettiarachchige of Sri Lanka 21-14, 21-8.

In the second singles match, Lindaweni Fanetri easily disposed of Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa 21-9, 21-8.

In doubles, world No. 9 Greysia Polii and Meliana Jauhari outclassed Renu Chandrika Hettiarachchige and Nadeesha Gayanthi 21-16, 21-8 in a quick 21-minute bout.

In the third singles matchup Belaetrix Manuputi defeated Lekha Shehani 21-17, 21-11, while in the last of the doubles, world No. 17 Nitya Krishinda Maheswari and Anneke Feinya Agustin outclassed Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa and Kavindi Ishandika Sirimannage 21-9, 21-11.

Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) general secretary Yacob Rusdianto said that he was grateful that the Uber team had finished well.

“We want all of our shuttlers to feel the good and bad things about the venue, including the breeze in the wind and the brightness of the lights,” Jacob said after the matches between Indonesia and Sri Lanka on Monday in Macau, as quoted by Antara.

First-time Uber Cup team member Belaetrix said that she was nervous about representing her country in the preliminaries. “It felt like the spectators were so close and all eyes were on me.”

She managed, however, to overcome her jitters by projecting herself as if she were engaged in a normal training session. “In the second game, I imagined myself as if I was in a training session so that it felt like no one was watching,” she said.

In addition to controlling her nerves, the 23-year-old said that she had to be calm in facing the fast-paced play of Shehani. “I had to play some rallies — had to be more patient.”

Indonesia’s Uber team will face Thailand, which defeated Kazakhstan 5-0 on Tuesday.

Indonesia is scheduled to face host Macau on Monday evening in the Thomas Cup preliminary.