Bellaetrix Manuputty
Indonesia's Uber Cup team eased through group B's first qualifying round against Australia, winning 5-0 on Sunday at the Siri Fort Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, India.
Indonesia's winning streak was opened by women's singles player Lindaweni Fanetri who eased past Tara Pilven 21-16, 21-11, followed by women's doubles Pia Zebadiah Bernadet/Rizki Amelia Pradipta who emerged victorious after a three-game match against Renuga Veeran/Tang He Tian 21-15, 17-21, 21-8.
Bellaetrix Manuputty played next, defeating Verdet Kessler 21-12, 21-12 and ensured Indonesia's win against the antipodeans.
'I was nervous at the beginning, because I felt I needed to win this game as my opponent was an unseeded player,' Bellaetrix said in a statement.
Team captain Adriyanti Firdasari, who was slated to play in the last match, had to move her schedule forward because Australia made a change to its second women's doubles players.
Gronya Somerville, who was supposed to play doubles with Jacqueline Guan, withdrew from Sunday's matches due to a stomach complaint. She was replaced by Kessler, who played singles in the third match.
'It was not an easy win especially against the first doubles players [Renuga Veeran/Tang He Tian]. They are good players. Some of our shuttlers were forced to play three-game matches,' said team manager Imelda Wiguna.
'We will evaluate the first day matches in preparation for the next matches against Singapore. Hopefully we can win,' she added.
Indonesia's Uber team will play against Singapore in the second qualifying round on Tuesday.
Fifth-ranked Indonesia is in Group X with runner-up Korea, Australia and Singapore. Defending champion China is in group W with Chinese Taipei, England and Singapore. Group Y consists of host India, Thailand, Canada and Hong Kong while group Z comprises of Japan, Denmark, Malaysia and Germany.
While for the Thomas Cup, Indonesian is in Group A with Thailand, Nigeria and Singapore, while defending champion China is in Group D with Chinese Taipei, Russia and France.
Group B comprises of Japan, Denmark, Hong Kong and England, while Group C consists of Malaysia, Germany, Korea and host India.
The last time Indonesia won the Thomas Cup was in 2002, while the country's women shuttlers last brought home the Uber Cup in 1996.
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