ASIA CUP: INDONESIA, MALAYSIA MARCH INTO FINALS
by Mike Grossman

February 22, 1997 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Favorites Indonesia and Malaysia both marched into tomorrow's finals of the Asia Cup badminton men's team tournament being held this week at the Senayan Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia.

In today's semifinal encounters, Indonesia beat Korea 3 matches to none to book their place in the finals, Korea, while Malaysia gained its championship berth by beating Taiwan 2-1.

Indra Wijaya led the Indonesian march with his 15-10 and 15-8 win over Korean number one Park Sung Woo. Wijaya had his net game going today as he often fooled Park with deceptive lifts and crosscourts. Park, who is coming back from an injury layoff and is playing himself back into tournament shape, was prone to error oftentimes hitting into the net.

Sigit Budiarto and Chandra Wijaya, the world number one men's doubles pair, clinched the victory for the Indonesians with an emphatic 15-6 and 15-9 trouncing of Lee Dong Soo and Yoo Yung Sung.

Budi Santoso won the second men's singles match, beating Kim Jul Chung 15-9 and 15-7.

Afterwards, a member of the Korean team said that they had difficulty coping with the difference between the weather in Korea where it is now wintertime and the temperature in Jakarta where it is a hot 30 degrees Centigrade.

In the Malaysia-Taiwan encounter, Ong Ewe Hock managed to climb back from the brink of defeat in the key opening match with Fung Permadi. Ong dropped the first game to Permadi 9-15 and was in trouble in the second.

The two played to a 13-all setting, but Ong, with his back to the proverbial wall, finally gained the advantage in the overtime to win at 18-15.

The third game was very closely played. However, Ong got into a winning position ahead of Permadi, and, despite the Taiwanese player's efforts to close the gap, he won the decider 15-13.

The Taiwanese team did manage to win a match when world junior championship silver medalists Huang Shih Chung and Chien Yu Hsun upset Olympic semifinalist Tan Kim Her and his temporary partner Lee Wan Wah in the men's doubles match. Huang and Chien beat the scratch Malaysian duo 8-15, 15-5 and 15-10.

Pang Chen won the clincher for Malaysia with his 15-11 and 15-6 victory over Chien Yu Hsiu.

** This NEW SHUTTLENWS report is sponsored by YANG YANG BADMINTON EQUIPMENT and their Finland agents, RACKETSERVICE K.Y. (Tel. 9-6801690). **