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JAKARTA: A pumped-up Indonesia is confident it has
what it takes to do what no one else has done in 10 years at the
elite Uber Cup—beat China.
Indonesia’s semifinal victory
over Germany put the Indons in the final for the first time since
1998
The team is buoyant ahead of the
showdown against China on Saturday.
“We are able to beat China in
the final,” said Adriyanti Firdasari, ranked 35th in the world,
after winning her singles rubber against Germany.
Firdasari is likely to play
either Lu Lan or Zhu Lin in the second singles match on Saturday.
World’s No. 1 Xie Xingfang goes up against Indonesia’s top
player, Maria Kristin.
The last time the two teams met
in the Uber Cup final was in 1998 in Hong Kong, when Indonesia
arrived as two-time champions.
China sent them packing and has
not been beaten since. In contrast, Indonesia never again revisited
those highs.
Team manager Susi Susanti, a
member of the Indonesian side that won the Cup in 1994 and 1996,
said her team would be well-prepared physically and psychologically.
She attributed their success this year to teamwork.
“The win against Germany was
the fruit of collective work. I am very proud of my Uber Cup
players,” she said.
Asked if they could beat China,
she replied: “Miracles happen. It is the best chance our country
has had for a long time to win the Cup.”
Working in Indonesia’s favor
will be a boisterous home crowd at the Bung Karno Sports Hall that
hasn’t given China an inch, consistently cheering for the opposing
team whenever they play.
The men’s Thomas Cup semifinals
are played later Friday. China faces Malaysia, while Indonesia plays
South Korea.
--AFP
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