MALAYSIA SHOCKED 3-2 IN THOMAS CUP PLAY
Park Joo Bong in Pivotal Win

May 17, 1996 (D.Shuttlenws) - Malaysia was handed a setback in the
their bid to recapture the world men's team championships from
arch-rival Indonesia when they were defeated 3-2 by a tough Korean
side in this evening's feature encounter at the Thomas Cup finals in
Hong Kong.

The evening started badly for Malaysia with Rashid Sidek losing to Park
Sung Woo 10-15 9-15.

Then the unretired Korean doubles star, Park Joo Bong, teamed up with
Kim Dong Moon to upset the world number one men'doubles pair of Cheah
Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock 15-11 15-9.

The loss was a shock to the Malaysians who were counting heavily on
their doubles pairs to help carry them to victory.

Park Joo Bong and Kim Dong Moon's win gave Korea a 2-0 lead in the tie
and put the Koreans in the proverbial driver's seat.

Ong Ewe Hock managed to beat Lee Kwang Jin in a thriller as Ong played
to keep Malaysian hopes alive while Lee tried to clinch the tie for his
country. The scoreline was 12-15 15-7 17-15 in favor of the Malaysian.

The ensuing doubles match between Malaysians Soo Beng Kiang and Tan Kim
Her and Koreans Yoo Yung Sung and Ha Tae Kwon was another thrilling,
see-saw affair as the Malaysians needed the win to stay alive and the
Koreans tried to finish the Malaysians off.

Soo and Tan took the first game 15-7 and the Koreans battled to win the
second 15-11. In the third game, the Malaysians prevailed 15-9 to knot up
the tie at 2 matches apiece.

In the deciding fifth match that lacked the drama of the preceding two
matches, Ahn Jae Chang of Korea beat the less-experienced Pang Chen
15-9 15-5.

Korea's victory over Malaysia increases their chances of qualifying to
the next phase of the Thomas Cup finals, but that is not guaranteed since
they are in Group B where there are 3 quality contenders - themselves,
Denmark and Malaysia - vying for two semifinal berths.

The Koreans must beat Denmark on Sunday to ensure a place in the semifinals.

Malaysia's road to the semifinals was made more difficult with tonight's
loss. They must now hope for a Korean victory on Sunday and then defeat
the Danes on Tuesday.

Denmark had an easier night against host Hong Kong, defeating the local
side, 5 matches to none, although Danish singles aces Poul-Erik
Hoyer-Larsen and Peter Rasmussen each dropped a game in their matches.

Hoyer-Larsen beat Tam Kai Chuen 14-18 15-9 15-6.

Then Michael Sogaard and Henrik Svarrer defeated Chan Siu Kwong and He
Yi Ming 15-4 15-7.

Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen followed with a 15-6 15-4 victory over Tam Lok
Tin.

In the fourth match, Jon Holst-Christensen teamed up with Thomas
Stavngaard to beat Ma Che Kong and Chow Kin Man 15-4 15-10.

Rasmussen then closed out the tie, defeating Liu Kwok Ma 15-5 10-15
15-1.


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