Iskandar delivers for Malaysia’s place in Thomas Cup quarter-finals

# National champion Iskandar delivers Malaysia’s winning point in 5-0 rout of Germany

# Kien Keat-Boon Heong redeem their pride

# Malaysia fully focused on final group match against Koreans

# Champions Japan also through to the quarter-finals

 

By Rizal Abdullah

National champion Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin made his Thomas Cup Finals debut in style when he delivered the winning point for an unassailable 3-0 lead in 5-0 rout of Germany in their second Group C match in Kunshan, China on Monday.

The 24-year-old Johor-lad has now put himself for a major role in Malaysia’s final group match against the strong South Koreans which will decide Group C champions.

Iskandar who was rested in the first match against England which Malaysia won 4-1 on Sunday, gave a polished performance in his match against Lars Schaenzler in his 21-7, 21-16 win in 32 minutes.

“This win means a lot to me…..especially when I was playing my first match in Kunshan. It is a confidence booster for me and puts me in the right frame of mind for the cruncher against the Koreans,” said Iskandar, who is ranked No 36 in the world.

The match against the Germans also saw second doubles pair of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong redeem their pride with 21-15, 21-10 win over Mark Lansfuss-Josche Zurwonne.

“We certainly did not want another disappointment after losing our match against England. So we came fully prepared for this match (against Germany) and to win and contribute to Malaysia’s 5-0 win is soothing,” said Kien Keat.

Malaysia’s top shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei gave the team the opening point with a 21-19, 21-15. Although the 40 minute duration of the match and the scoreline raised some eyebrows Chong Wei was never in doubt of a win as he was “getting the feel” of the court for the crunch match against the Koreans on Tuesday to decide the group champions.

Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong were in their element in the 21-12. 21-11 win over Richard Domke-Fabian Holzer in the first doubles before Iskandar came on court to deliver what was expected of him.

Chong Wei Feng, known for his good run in a team event like the Thomas Cup, was his confident self in his 21-9, 21-18 win over David Peng in the third singles and final match to complete the rout.

Defending champions Japan also marched into the quarter-finals after securing their second win in Group A with a 5-0 whitewash of Mexico 5-0 In their opening first round match on Sunday, Japan whipped France 5-0.

Japan, who surprised everyone to win their first ever Thomas Cup in 2014 with a 3-2 win over Malaysia in the final, will face top seeds China in their final group match.

It was a stroll for the Japanese who rested their top singles player Sho Sasaki. Instead it was Takuma Ueda who played first singles and he walked away with a 21-8, 21-9 win over Lino Munoz.

Kazumasa Sakai and Riichi Takeshita played second and third singles and they did not disappoint to give their team a 3-0 lead as all the singles matches were played first. Sakai won 21-12, 21-9 against Job Castillo while Takeshita got the better of Luis Ramon Garrido with a 21-10, 21-18 win.

It was also a stroll for Japan in the doubles with Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda finishing off Catillo-Munoz 21-8, 21-6 in only 22 minutes before Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi also needing only 22 minutes to stop Lopez Andres-Garrido 21-8, 21-10 in the second doubles to complete their whitewash.

Meanwhile in the Uber Cup competition former champions Indonesia booked their place in the quarter-finals after a hard fought 3-2 win over Hong Kong – their second win in Group C.

The Indonesians, who won the Uber Cup three times – in 1975, 1994 and 1996 – beat Bulgaria in their first match on Sunday – have to thank their third singles Hana Ramadhini for their win over Hong Kong and a place in the knockout round.

Ramadhini defeated Ng Wing Yung 21-16, 21-11 in the deciding match after both teams were tied at 2-2 with Hong Kong winning two singles and Indonesia both the doubles. 

Joining Indonesia in the quarter-finals from the group are Thailand who also registered their second win on Monday – defeating Bulgaria 5-0.

South Korea, winners of the Uber Cup in 2010, are also through the quarter-finals after a 5-0 win over minnows Mauritius. In their first match on Sunday the Koreans also won 5-0 against the United States.

Meanwhile in the Uber Cup competition, former champions Indonesia booked their place in the quarter-finals after a hard fought 3-2 win over Hong Kong – their second win in Group C.

The Indonesians, who won the Uber Cup three times – in 1975, 1994 and 1996 – beat Bulgaria in their first match on Sunday – have to thank their third singles Hana Ramadhini for their win over Hong Kong and a place in the knockout round.

Ramadhini defeated Ng Wing Yung 21-16, 21-11 in the deciding match after both teams were tied at 2-2 with Hong Kong winning two singles and Indonesia both the doubles. 

South Korea, winners of the Uber Cup in 2010, are also through the quarter-finals after a 5-0 win over minnows Mauritius. In their first match on Sunday the Koreans also won 5-0 against the United States.

 

THOMAS CUP RESULTS (May 16)

GROUP A

Japan beat Mexico   5-0

(Japan first)

Singles

Takuma Ueda beat Liuno Munoz 21-8, 21-9

Kazumasa Sakai beat Job Castillo 21-12, 21-9

Riichi Takeshita beat Luis Ramon Garrido 21-0, 21-8

 

Doubles

Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda beat Job Castillo-Lino Munoz 21-8, 21-6

Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi beat Lopez Andres-Luis Ramon Carrido 21-8, 21-10

 

GROUP C

Malaysia beat Germany 5-0

Singles

Lee Chong Wei beat Kai Schaefer 21-19, 21-15

Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin beat Lars Schaenzler 21-7, 21-16

Chong Wei Feng beat David Peng  21-9, 21-18

 

Doubles

Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong beat Richard Domke-Fabian Holzer 21-12, 21-11

Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong beat Mark Lamsfuss-Josche Zurwonne 21-15, 21-10

 

GROUP D

Denmark beat South Africa 5-0

(Denmark first)

Singles

Viktor Axelsen beat Jacob Maliekal 21-14, 21-11

Jan O Jorgensen beat Cameron Coetzer 21-9, 21-9

Hans Kristian-Vittinghus beat Andries Malan 21-7, 21-7

 

Doubles

Kim Aastrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen beat Cameron Coetzer- Jacob Maliekal 21-13, 21-16

Mads Conrad-Petersen-Mads Pieler Kolding beat Andries Malan-Willem Viljoen 21-8, 21-17

 

GROUP D

Taiwan beat New Zealand 5-0

(Taiwan first)

Singles

Chou Tien-chen beat Dylan Soedjasa 21-14, 21-6

Hsu Jan-hao beat Nicolo Tagle 21-7, 21-12

Wang Tsz Wei beat Asher Richardson 21-8, 21-8

 

Doubles

Lee Sheng-mu-Tsai Chia-hsin beat Kevin Dennerly-Minturn-Oliver Leydon-Davis 21-13. 21-12

Chen Hung-ling-Wang Ch-lin beat Asher Richardson-Nicolo Tangle 21-11, 21-17

 

UBER CUP

GROUP B

South Korea beat Mauritius 5-0

 

GROUP C

Thailand beat Bulgaria 5-0

(Thailand first)

Singles

Ratchanok Intanon beat Lind Zetchiri 17-21, 21-14, 21-15

Busanan Ongbumrungphan beat Petya Nedelcelva 21-10, 21-15

Nitchaon Jindapol beat Mariya Mitsova 21-19, 21-19

 

Doubles

Puttita Supajirakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai beat Gabriela Stoeva-Stefani Stoeva 21-11, 21-16

Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai beat Mariya Mitsova-Petya Nedelchelva 21-9, 21-9

 

GROUP C

Indonesia beat Hong Kong 3-2

(Indonesia first)

 

Singles

Maria Febe Kusumastuti lost to Yip Pui Yin 19-21, 21-12, 18-21

Fitriani Fitriani lost to Cheung Ngan Yi 16-21, 21-12, 16-21

Hana Ramadhini beat Ng Wing Yung 21-16, 21-11

 

Doubles

Anggia Shitta Awanda-Greysia Polii beat Tse Ying Suet-Yuen Sin Ying 21-10, 21-16

Della Destiara Haris-Rosyita Eka Putri Sari beat Ng Tsz Yau-Yeung Nga Ting 21-16, 21-11