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URABAYA: World champion mixed doubles pair Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir once again proved their worth after defeating Europe All Star shuttlers Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork 21-11, 21-19 at the Axiata Cup championship’s preliminary round on Sunday.

Playing at the DBL Arena Surabaya sports center in East Java, the All England champs Tontowi and Liliyana played all out by aggressively attacking Robertson and Wallwork through sharp smashes that overwhelmed the European pair.

In the previous match, Indonesia men’s doubles Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan beat Ivan Sozonov and Vladimir Ivanov, 22-20, 21-19, while Europe All Star men’s singles Scott Evans had to retired in the second game against Dionysisus Hayom Rumbaka due to health problems.

In the women’s singles, Indonesia’s Bellaetrix Manuputy was overpowered by Europe All Star shuttler Carolina Marin 21-8, 14-21, 21-15.

With the latest triumph, Indonesia leads 3:1 over Europe All Star and burned the team’s hopes to play at the semifinals.

Indonesia will face Malaysian in the semifinals in Kuala Lumpur on April 13.