Indonesia set up Sudirman Cup final clash with China

Updated：2007-06-17 From：Xinhuanet

GLASGOW, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia set up the Sudirman Cup final clash with China after beating England 3-2 in the world mixed team badminton championships on Saturday.

Hot favorites China, chasing their sixth trophy, whitewashed South Korea 3-0 in the other semifinal earlier.

Sudirman Cup semifinals newcomers England had a dream start as they won the opening two rubbers of the mixed doubles and women's singles.

Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat clinched a crucial point in men' s singles, beating Andrew Smith 22-20, 21-15 to put Indonesia back in fight.

Indonesia then sweated to level 2-2 with England thanks to the efforts of women's duo Greysia Polii and Vita Marissa, who overcame Gail Emms and Donna Kellogg 22-20, 21-15.

Candra Wijaya and Kido Markis concluded the eye-catching semifinal with a 21-18, 21-16 win over Anthony Clark and Robert Blair in men's doubles.

"I played a good game. I played and I won," said Hidayat.

The Indonesian sensation was eager to play in the final, in which he probably meet his archrival Lin Dan.

"I was nervous to watch my teammates playing. I'm here to play, not to watch," he said.

However, Lin Dan's place in the final was still in doubt due to his lackluster performance.

In the South Korea match, holders China eased into a 2-0 lead but the world number one survived a scare in the third rubber of men's singles before finally clinching a 21-11, 18-21, 21-14 win over Olympic sliver medallist Shon Seung-Mo.

"I'm satisfied with the result and my players but not so satisfied with Lin's performance. He didn't give his best," Chinese head coach Li Yongbo told a press conference.

"He needs to present more, otherwise he might not play in the final," Li said.

"Super Dan" has been out of form throughout the group stage. Helost to Asian champion Lee Chong Wei in straight sets on Thursday when China had been expected to present another whitewash in their final round-robin match against Malaysia.

It was the first time since the 2003 final that China had not won a Sudirman Cup match 5-0.

Zheng Bo and Gao Ling set China on course by beating Han Sang-Hoon and Lee Hyo-Jung 21-17, 22-20 in the first rubber of mixed doubles.

Current world number one Zhang Ning made it 2-0 for China, thrashing Hwang Youn-Hye 21-14, 21-17 in women's singles.

"In general, I'm pleased with my performance. But her points were gained on my mistakes," said Zhang after her game.

"Chinese women's singles players always shoulder big part of the pressure because people think we are strong and have no excuse to lose. But at the same time, that's the motivation for me to play better game," she said.

China beat Indonesia, who only lifted the trophy in 1898 at the inaugural event, for the title in the Beijing edition in 2005.