Indonesia Advances to Thomas Cup Finals

KUALA LUMPUR, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia for the first time since 2002 reached the final round of the Thomas Cup group badminton championship here on Friday after beating Japan in the semifinals 3-1. 

"I am glad the Indonesian team could win and go to the final," team manager Yacob Rusdianto said after the semifinal match.
  
The final at Bukit Jalil on Sunday would be the first for Indonesia since 2002 when the country last won the Thomas Cup to be the fifth champion in a row.

After that Indonesia has always been defeated in the semifinals. In the final on Sunday Indonesia will meet the winner of the match between Malaysia and defending champion China. Asked which of the two teams will benefit Indonesia Yacob said the two teams had their own superiority.

"China may be considered having players with equal strength for all matches and we will be the underdog and so we would play without any burden," he said. About the Malaysian team he said that its strength was actually equal that of the country so the chance for the country’s team to win is wide open.
  
Nova Widianto and Alvent Yulianto were the ones determining the Indonesian victory against Japan in the semifinal beating Noriyasu Hirata and Hiroyuki Endo 21-14, 22-20 in the double’s event.
  
The two other victories for Indonesia meanwhile were made by single player Taufik Hidayat who defeated Kenichi Tago 21-9, 21-14 and Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan who won over Kenichi Hayakawa/Kenta Kazuno 21-9, 21-11. Taufik said his performance got better and better.

"I hope I could continue to be able to give the best of me," the Olympic champion in Athens said. Indonesian Simon Santoso was beaten by Sho Sasaki 21-19, 13-21 and 11-21.