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Indonesian shuttlers march to quarterfinals
One step closer: Indonesiaâs menâs doubles pair Mohammad Ahsan (front) and Hendra Setiawan play against Thailandâs Wannawat Ampunsuwan and Nipitphon Puangpuapech (not pictured) during the Group A qualifying round of the 2014 Thomas Cup at the Siri Fort Sports Complex in New Delhi on Wednesday
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One step closer: Indonesiaâs menâs doubles pair Mohammad Ahsan (front) and Hendra Setiawan play against Thailandâs Wannawat Ampunsuwan and Nipitphon Puangpuapech (not pictured) during the Group A qualifying round of the 2014 Thomas Cup at the Siri Fort Sports Complex in New Delhi on Wednesday. Ahsan/Hendra won 21-15, 21-14. (Antara/Ismar Patrizki) (front) and Hendra Setiawan play against Thailandâs Wannawat Ampunsuwan and Nipitphon Puangpuapech (not pictured) during the Group A qualifying round of the 2014 Thomas Cup at the Siri Fort Sports Complex in New Delhi on Wednesday. Ahsan)
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span class="inline inline-none">One step closer: Indonesia's men's doubles pair Mohammad Ahsan (front) and Hendra Setiawan play against Thailand's Wannawat Ampunsuwan and Nipitphon Puangpuapech (not pictured) during the Group A qualifying round of the 2014 Thomas Cup at the Siri Fort Sports Complex in New Delhi on Wednesday. Ahsan/Hendra won 21-15, 21-14. (Antara/Ismar Patrizki)
The Indonesian badminton team advanced to the quarterfinals of the Thomas and Uber cups after completing their group matches on Wednesday in New Delhi.
The Indonesian men's team overcame Thailand 4-1 to top Group A in the Thomas Cup while their female compatriots secured their ticket to the next stage as Group X runners-up in Uber Cup after losing to South Korea 1-4 in their last matches.
As runners-up, the women's team faces potentially daunting matches against group winners, either China (Group W), India (Group Y) or Japan (Group Z) in the quarterfinals. The match draw was scheduled to be conducted later in the evening.
It was not a good start for the men's team when Tommy Sugiarto was beaten by Boonsak Ponsana 21-14, 13-21, 17-21. Both players have now evened their head-to-head score to 3-3 in six meetings.
World number one men's doubles pair Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan initiated their team's fightback by defeating Wannawat Ampunsuwan/Nipitphon Puangpuapech 21-15, 21-14.
Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka gave the team a 2-1 lead with his 21-17, 21-19 win over Suppanyu Avihingsanon.
Angga Pratama/Rian Agung Saputro built on the team's lead, eking out a 21-14, 22-20 win over Maneepong Jongjit/Patiphat Chalardchaleam before Simon Santoso sealed Indonesia's victory by easing past Thammasin Sitthikom 21-13, 21-13.
For Angga, it was his first win over Jongjit.
'I have never won against Jongjit no matter who his partner was. So I'm really glad to break the score and decide the team's win in group A,' Angga said.
Thailand finished as runner-up ahead of Singapore and Nigeria. Other teams to advance to the quarterfinals were Japan, Denmark (Group B), Malaysia, South Korea (Group C), China, France (Group D).
It was a different story with the Uber Cup team, who had to face South Korea in the final qualifying matches in their group.
Korean domination began with Sung Ji-hyun winning against Lindaweni Fanetri 21-12, 21-18.
Nitya Krishinda Maheswari/Greysia Polii put up a resilient game before succumbing 12-21, 21-18, 21-18 in their match against Jang Ye-na/Kim So-young.
Maria Febe Kusumastuti failed to save the team from defeat when she went down to Bae Yeon-ju 21-13, 21-10.
'Yeon-ju's shots were unpredictable as always. I varied my shots but it was not enough to fight her off,' said Febe.
In the following dead-rubber tie Tiara Rosalia Nuraidah/Suci Rizky Andini stole the first game before losing steam in the next two games against Jung Kyung-eun/Kim Ha-na. They lost 22-20, 20-22, 19-21.
The team's captain Adriyanti Firdasari got a consolation point against Kim Hyo-min whom she defeated 21-15, 21-13.
However, the loss did not prevent Indonesia from marching to the quarterfinals, thanks to victories over Australia and Singapore in the previous matches.
'The Korean team's players were good. I had expected to win at least two points from the women's doubles and women's singles events. Unfortunately Greysia/Nitya lost their game,' team manager Imelda Wiguna said.
'I had expected Febe to perform all-out today. She had said that she would try to pay Yeon Ju back after she lost all their four matches. That's why we gave her the chance,' she added.
Imelda said that most of Indonesia's women shuttlers were lacking in stamina compared to their opponents.
'It's not over yet. We still have to put up a good fight in the quarterfinals. Let's just hope that we do not meet China in the first matches, because the country has an even strength in all events'.
