Thomas Indonesia Team Aims To Silence Korea To Hold Group Champion Status

The Daddies (Photo: PBSI)

JAKARTA – The Indonesian badminton team is eyeing victory over South Korea in the final group stage match to qualify for the quarter-finals as group winners.

Indonesia will meet Korea in the last match of Group A on Wednesday, May 11 tomorrow at 14.00 local time. Both teams have collected two wins so far.

Currently, Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and his friends are still at the top of the standings, followed by Korea in second place. However, that place could have been taken over by the Ginseng Country squad if Indonesia lost in the last match later.

"Our target from the start was to come out as group winners. For that, there is no other way but to beat them," said team manager Hendro Santoso in an official statement.

Indonesia and Korea previously beat Singapore and Thailand in the first two matches. The Garuda team won with a score of 4-1 each, while Korea won with a score of 3-2 over the two teams.

The two victories show that the Indonesian squad is quite ready to meet Korea. It's just that the homework is in the men's singles, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, who has yet to contribute points for Merah Putih after losing against Loh Kean Yew (Singapore) and Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Thailand).

Hendro said that Indonesia would field the best squad in the match against Korea later. He also hopes that all players can maximize and can contribute points.

"We will fight against Korea. Two victories over Singapore and Thailand are an encouragement to beat Korea. With enough rest, hopefully his condition will recover and be fit," said Hendro.

The Thomas Indonesia team, which is the defending champion, is targeted to bring home the title from this most prestigious event. In the previous edition, the Garuda squad ended a 19-year title drought after beating China in the final match.