Malaysia, Indonesia in final 8 at Thomas Cup
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E-mail China Daily, May 22, 2012
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Hidayat Taufik of Indonesia competes during the team's 4-1 win over England in the Thomas Cup group matches in Wuhan, May 21, 2012. [Photo/CFP] |
Men's singles world No 1 Lee Chong-wei and Olympic gold medalist Hidayat Taufik played a crucial role in their team's victory in Monday's Thomas Cup group matches.
Lee led Malaysia to the top eight of the Thomas Cup with a 5-0 opening victory over South Africa, while Taufik helped Indonesia claim a hard-fought 4-1 win over England.
Simon Santoso sailed past Rajiv Ouseph to give Indonesia a 1-0 lead, but Beijing Olympic gold medalists Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan suffered a defeat by Chris Adcock/Andrew Ellis, with the score of 19-21, 21-14, 17-21.
"We have won over them before, so we are confident on the court," said Adcock, who scored the first point for England at these team championships after being clean swept by China on Sunday.
"We are in a tough group together with China and Indonesia. China is too strong to beat, we come here hoping to challenge Indonesia," added Adcock.
However, England's challenge was denied by Taufik and doubles pair Mohammad Ahsan/Alvent Yulianto Chandra.
Taufik, currently world No 12, restored Indonesia's lead by beating Carl Baxter 21-12, 21-16, while Ahsan/Chandra came from behind to beat Chris Langridge/Nathan Robertson 19-21, 21-12, 21-19, securing the victory for Indonesia.
The top two teams in the group will qualify for the last eight. Tomorrow's match is set to be a winner-take-all between China and Indonesia to see who tops Group A.
"This will be my last Thomas Cup. I hope that Indonesia, China, Malaysia and Denmark could enter semifinals," said Taufik, who won the Thomas Cup in 2000 and 2002.
Lee beat unheralded Jacob Malieka of South Africa 21-13, 21-10 in the first group match of Malaysia, helping Malaysia to secure a quarter-final berth together with Denmark in Group C.
South Africa, who lost to Denmark on Sunday, was eliminated from the men's team championships. Malaysia will fight against Denmark for the top place in Group C, the loser of which will have a possible meeting with top seed China in the quarter-finals.
"I'm just trying to find the rhythm in the opener as my opponent is not so strong," said Lee.
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Lee Chong-wei of Malaysia withdraws from the team's group stage match against Denmark due to injury during the Thomas Cup in Wuhan, May 21, 2012. [Photo/CFP] |
As the first singles in both teams, Lee will encounter with Danish world No 5 Peter Gade. "I cherish the match against Gade, because he will retire after the Olympics and this Thomas Cup will be his last," said Lee.
In the Uber Cup, Denmark was made to work hard by the United States before they won 4-1.
Danish first singles Tine Baun spent only 24 minutes outclassing Rena Wang, but Iris Wang avenged her sister's loss in the second match, edging past Karina Jorgensen 19-21, 21-11, 19-21.
However in other three matches, the United States provided little challenge to Denmark as the final score ended up at 4-1.
"We have some young players in our team, who need time to get used to the atmosphere here," said Baun.
