Tontowi Ahmad, Liliyana Natsir prevail in preliminary stage of 2013 Sudirman Cup – Badminton news
Mixed Doubles partners Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia forged fruitful chemistry and made their mark in the preliminary stage of Sudirman Cup on May 23, 2013.
They were up against the Chinese duo Xu Chen-Ma Jin and this epic 65-minute tussle remained in full swing for three gruelling sets.
The Indonesian pair won the opening and ending segments of the showdown with 21-18 and 21-16 scores whereas the losing contenders could pocket only the second match point with 21-14 total.
In first set of match, Tontowi and Liliyana played cautiously in the beginning and their passive approach allowed the opposing team to gain decent advantage. However, they did not take much time to gain the required momentum and left their challengers far
behind on the point table.
The Indonesian shuttlers played with great concord and finished first half of the set with a favourable score position. This initial lead helped them even after the mid-game break. They maintained an upper hand all the way game point situation and claimed
this crucial match point with 21-18 margin.
Next set brought life back into the contest as the Chinese players showed a transformed character and won this game with distinction. This time, they improvised their game plan and confounded the rivals.
At first, Xu Chen and Ma Jin ruled the court in the establishing rallies and piled up a respectable total in no time. They played with an authoritative approach and doubled their lead in next couple of rallies.
At one-minute interval, the twosome of Xu Chen-Ma Jin was in commanding position and their supremacy remained valid till the last stroke. They swept the table with an overwhelming figure of 21-14 and setup a decisive third set.
The decider was expected to be a tough trial for both teams but it proved a one-sided affair in the second half.
Tontowi and Liliyana did not lose grip at any stage of the game and served the notice of their dominance. They registered a winning margin of 21-16 and claimed a vital match point for the team.
However, the other Indonesian players failed to make best out of this advantage and surrendered tamely against China.
Tags: