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Indonesia in Sudirman final

May 14, 2005 19:31 IST
Indonesia powered their way into the Sudirman Cup final with a 3-0 win over Denmark on Saturday.

The Indonesians on Sunday will face the winner of the later semi-final between favourites China and holders South Korea.

Indonesia took the upper hand from the start with Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir's crushing 15-4, 15-7 win over Jens Eriksen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl in the mixed doubles.

"We didn't expect to win 3-0. The mixed doubles was the key. If we won that, it would be easier in the next game," Indonesian coach Hendrawan said.

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Hopes
faded for Denmark when world number three Peter Gade lost in straight games to Olympic champion Taufiq Hidayat.

Hidayat won the first game 15-10 on a questionable line call but dispelled all doubts in the second with a dominating 15-3 performance.

"I was very confident against Gade because I beat him at the Olympics," Hidayat, long considered the bad boy of badminton, said.

The relatively inexperienced Camilla Sorenson, brought in to replace injured Tine Rasmussen, tried to spark a Danish rally, taking her first game against Fransisca Hari 11-3.

But Hari was able to turn things around and sent Indonesia through to an all-Asian final with a 2-1 victory.

"The Indonesians played much better than us today and they deserve to go to the final," Danish coach Steen Pedersen said.

China will try to avenge their loss of the 2003 cup to South Korea in the second semi-final.

The hosts have proven untouchable so far and are strongly favoured to take their fifth title.

Source: REUTERS
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