JAKARTA - Indonesia stepped into the 2022 Uber Cup quarter-finals as group runner-up after losing to Japan in the last match of group A stage. Indonesia gave up 1-4 in the match which took place at Court 1 Impact Arena, Bangkok Thailand, Wednesday 11 May.
Indonesia got the first number through the women's singles Bilqis Prasista. The women's singles, ranked 333 in the world, made a surprise by defeating the badminton player who is currently ranked number one in the world, namely Akane Yamaguchi.
Japan then leveled the score to 1-1 in the second match in a dramatic duel. Their women's doubles, Nami Matsuyama/Chiharu Shida, were forced to play in three sets 21-16, 18-21, and 21-15 by Indonesian pair Melani Mamahit/Tryola Nadia.
Tasya Farahnailah's second single also lost points in the third match, making Japan reverse the position to 2-1. The badminton player ranked 355th in the world lost two straight times when he met world number 13 Sayaka Takahashi.
Victory for Japan and then determined in the fourth party. Women's doubles Yuki Fukushima/Mayu Matsumoto defeated Indonesian representatives Lanny Tria Mayasari/Jesita Putri Miantoro in straight sets 21-14, 21-15.
Siti Sarah Azzahra who played in the fifth party also could not contribute points. The 2003-born athlete had to admit the superiority of his opponent Riko Gunji with the final score, 12-21, 22-24.
Indonesia's opponent in the quarter-finals is not yet known. The draw for that round will take place today after all group stage matches have been completed.
The Uber Indonesia team is expected to reach the semifinals this year. In the previous edition in 2021, the Pertiwi squad stopped in the quarter-finals after being bent by Thailand.
Indonesia has been short of an Uber Cup title for more than two decades. The last time the prestigious trophy was brought back to the country was in 1996 after Indonesia beat China 4-1 in the final match.
At that time, the Uber Indonesia team was strengthened by Bilqis' mother, Zelin Resiana, and the legend Susy Susanti. In the same year, the Thomas Cup was also successfully carried off by Merah Putih.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
