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JAKARTA: Coaches admit the semifinals of the Thomas
Cup team championships are too close to call but whoever wins will
be from Asia, once again underlining regional dominance on the
badminton court.
Only three countries have ever
lifted the cup since its inception in 1948 and they are all in
Friday’s semifinals here—Indonesia (13 titles), China (six), and
Malaysia (five).
The dark horses are South Korea,
who admitted manipulating their group games to ensure the easiest
passage possible into the last four as they strive to land the
prestigious trophy for the first time.
China is aiming for a third
straight title ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August, but coach Li
Yongbo admits the gap between his side and the chasing pack has
narrowed.
“I think China,
Indonesia, Malaysia and Denmark are all very equal at the moment,”
the usually unresponsive Li said at a rare press conference after
his team beat Thailand in the quarterfinals.
“I’d say though that
Indonesia are favorites because they have the home crowd support.”
Malaysia, led by world’s No. 2
Lee Chong Wei, stand in China’s way and Li knows it will be a
titanic battle.
“Malaysia have strong
singles players and excellent doubles combinations and if we do not
prepare well, we will lose,” he said Li.
“Lee Chong Wei and
company are more experienced and have more depth in their game.
However, my players have prepared well and we are confident of
winning the title.”
The Malaysians opted for
new doubles pairings in their victory over Japan on Wednesday with
Koo Kien Keat partnering Choong Tan Fook and Tan Boon Heong playing
alongside Zakry Latif.
National doubles coach Rexy
Mainaky said it was a risk but would have China wondering what
Malaysia, who haven’t won the title since 1992, will do next.
“The successful move has
made Malaysia more unpredictable and China will now be scratching
their heads about our strategies against them,” Rexy told
reporters.
Indonesia can count on
boisterous home support against the Koreans but there is concern
over the form of world’s No. 6 Sony Dwi Kuncoro who committed a
series of unforced errors on Wednesday against England’s Andrew
Smith.
Indonesian coach Indra Gunawan
knows it will be tough to win despite national expectations.
“Korean players are in
top form, both singles and doubles,” he told reporters.
Despite the
match-manipulation row Korea have been the surprise package of the
tournament, carving out a 3-2 upset of European giants Denmark to
make the semis with fast-improving singles players Park Sung Hwan
and Lee Hyun Il.
Denmark was runner up to China in
the past two Thomas Cups.
--AFP
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