All Areas Must Improve

AFP PHOTO/ROMEO GACAD

Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (front) of Indonesia dives to hit a return against Liu Cheng and Zhang Nan of China as his teammate Marcus Fernaldi Gideon looks on during their men\'s doubles semifinals match at the Thomas and Uber Cup badminton tournament in Bangkok on May 25.

BANGKOK, KOMPAS — Indonesia failed in its target to reach the final and win the Thomas Cup 2018. The “Red and White” team’s struggle was halted after losing 1-3 to China in the semifinal match. At the Impact Arena, Bangkok, on Friday (25/5/2018), after falling behind 1-2 to China, the Indonesian team had the chance to equalize through men’s double Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan.

They tried hard to face down Chinese players Liu Yuchen and Li Junhui. However, during the 53-minute match, Hendra and Ahsan lost 17-21, 21-18, 12-21. After losing in the first game, Hendra and Ahsan had the chance to win the match after winning the second game. The world’s men’s doubles champions in 2013 and 2015 played smart and tactical. The movements of Hendra and Ahsan put their rivals in a difficult position.

But in the third game, Liu and Li played better, while Hendra and Ahsan often made faults and gave points to their rivals. “We have tried our best but our rivals played better. We apologize to Indonesians for this defeat,” said Ahsan after the match.

Hendra and Ahsan played in the fourth match. They tried to get closer to China, which was leading with a 1-2 score. Playing when the rival team was leading did not pressure them more. “We only focus on our own match. This time our rivals played better,” he said.

Previously, China collected the score through their best men’s singles Chen Long and Shi Yuqi. Chen Long defeated Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, 22-20, 21-16 while Shi Yuqi beat Jonatan Christie, 18-21, 21-12, 21-15. On paper, both of China’s men’s singles are better than Indonesia’s players.

Chen Long is now the world’s 5^th best player. China’s top men’s single is the country’s best player in the Thomas Cup. He is undefeated in the past five matches since qualification. Meanwhile, Shi Yuqi is the 2018 All England and India Open winner.

Jojo, the nickname of Jonatan Christie, defeated the China’s men’s single during the Thomas and Uber Cup qualification match, which is also known as the Asia Team Championship in Alor Setar in February. The Indonesian men’s team has hope to get into the final after men’s double Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon beat Liu Cheng and Zhang Nan, 21-12, 17-21, 15-21. But, the men’s team was halted after Hendra and Ahsan lost a point.

With the defeat, the final match Ihsan Maulana Mustofa versus senior single player Lin Dan was dropped. For the Thomas Cup, Indonesia sent Anthony, Jojo, Ihsan and Firman Abdul Kholik. The “Red and White” team also deployed Kevin and Marcus, Hendra and Ahsan and Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto.

Before the championship kicked off, Indonesia’s men’s doubles coach Hendry Iman Pierngadi said Hendra and Ahsan were brought to the Thomas Cup team not only because of their skill and capability to compete against top players. Their experience of playing in the championship was needed to motivate their team mates.

Hendry once said because both players were no longer young they face challenges when meeting younger players, who play faster and more powerfully. Currently, Hendra is 33 years old and Ahsan is 30 years old. Meanwhile, their rivals Liu and Li are 22 and 23 years old respectively.

China is the holder of five championship titles at the Thomas Cup between 2004 and 2012. That record is similar to Indonesia, which won the Thomas Cup between 1994 and 2002. Indonesia is the team with the most Thomas Cup championship titles, at 13 titles. China is trailing with 9 titles, followed by Malaysia (5), Denmark and Japan (1). After winning five titles between 1994 and 2002, Indonesia’s men’s team at the Thomas Cup have only reached the final or semifinal match since then.

The result indicates the need for improvement in all areas. “The men’s double team must be consistent and the singles players must improve and mature. There is an improvement in the men’s singles, but it is not consistent,” said Thomas and Uber Team manager Susy Susanti.