After overcoming obstacles in the 2019 Sudirman Cup group stage to advance to the next round, Indonesia is one step closer to winning its second mixed team championship in the tourney. Hendra Setiawan and his compatriots will square off against Taiwan in the quarterfinals on Friday in Nanning, China.

Indonesia topped Group B after tallying one victory and one defeat against England and Denmark respectively. Despite losing 3-2 to Denmark in its last group stage match on Wednesday night, Indonesia won the group by way of total points.

Finishing as the group leader means Indonesia avoids an early showdown with powerhouse sides Japan and China, which also won their groups. In addition to the Indonesia-Taiwan tilt, the quarterfinals will also feature matchups between Japan and Malaysia, Denmark and China and South Korea and Thailand.

On facing Taiwan, Indonesia manager Susi Susanti said despite Taiwan’s strength across the board, she was optimistic about the squad outperforming Tai Tzu Ying and her teammates and securing a spot in the semis.

“Taiwan is strong in both the singles and men’s doubles categories. The most important thing is that we are ready, as we have entered the knockout round. We have to stay focused and concentrate more,” Susy said in a statement.

Taiwan failed to top Group C after suffering a dramatic loss against South Korea 3-2 in its last group stage match on Wednesday. Women’s singles shuttler Tai Tzu Ying, who was expected to come in clutch for her country, was stunned by teenager An Se-young in an extended match 21-14, 18-21, 16-21. Taiwan managed to advance, however, gaining a point each in men’s singles and doubles.

On paper, Taiwanese world number one Tai is expected to beat Indonesia’s Fitriani and Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in women’s singles. World number 15 Gregoria played against Tai in 2017 and lost. Fitriani, ranked 29th in the world, has never played against the Taiwanese.

In men’s singles, Taiwan is pinning hopes on world number four Chou Tien Chen, who won a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games. To earn points, Chou will have to exercise demons of the past, having won four of the past nine matches against Indonesia’s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting and lost all five against Jonatan Christie.

As it did in the group stage, Indonesia will rely on its men’s doubles players to steal points, especially after its main men Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon as well as veterans Hendra and Mohammad Ahsan played their roles flawlessly in the round robin.

In their head-to-head record, Taiwan’s Chen Hung Ling and Wang Chi-Lin are 2-2 against Hendra and Ahsan. However, in all five meetings with Marcus and Kevin, they have zero wins.

If Indonesia manage to topple Taiwan, it will face either Japan or Malaysia, which will also have their quarterfinal showdowns on Friday.

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