Indonesia and Malaysia will fight today to decide group leader in the Sudirman Cup – Badminton News
Indonesia and Malaysia are ready to fight today to decide the group leader in the Sudirman Cup 2011, which is in progress at Qingdao, a coastal city of China.
Both countries are considered among the top nations of Badminton in the world. However, Indonesia is missing its top players including, Taufik Hidayat, Lilyana Natsir, Hendra Setiawan, Markis Kido and Sony Dwi Kuncoro.
Malaysian squad comprises of World Number 1, Lee Chong Wei, and the top Malaysian pair of Koo Kien Keat – Tan Boon Heong along with some young shuttlers. Chong Wei and Kien Keat – Tan Boon are expected to win two points for Malaysia without any considerable resistance from the opponents.
Both countries have entered into the quarter-final stages of the mixed team event, but the leader of group B will not be playing against China, the host and defending Champion of Sudirman Cup.
Chong Wei expressed that in the absence of Taufik and Kido – Setiawan, it won't be as hard for them to win Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles matches, however, he knows that the young Indonesians have the ability and skill to beat any top player in the world on a given day.
While talking about his performance against the Russian shuttler on Monday, Chong Wei said, “I did not go all out in the tie against Russia as I wanted to conserve energy to play against Indonesia.”
Chong Wei knows that he will face either Indonesia’s Simon Santoso or Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka ahead in the competition. He expressed that his record against these Indonesians is good but he does not underestimate them in any aspect of the game.
“I have a good record against their singles players but Simon had given me tough fights in the last two meetings. I respect all my opponents,” Chong Wei said.
The match between these two neighbouring countries will be very interesting as both countries have a strong badminton culture and also possess a similar level of skill in all areas of the game.
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