Team INA's both Men and Women Team managed to qualify for the Finals tomorrow. The Women's Team was lucky to have avoided a clash against JPN as the Japanese entire squad withdrew. They will have a rematch against Team KOR tomorrow, whom they beat 3-2 on Thursday. I hope they can win to bring home a trophy for the women's squad that desperately needs a result for the team event.
As for the Men's Team, it was an expected victory for the World Champion Loh Kean Yew against Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo. INA also fell behind 1-2 when Ikhsan Leonardo Imanuel Rumbay lost in 3-sets to Jason Teh Jia Heng. It was left to the doubles pair - Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana (both are unbeaten) to salvage and level the tie at 2-2 after they beat the 2 Singaporean pairs.
The hero of the day is Christian Adinata (yet again, after he rescued INA against KOR) who beat Joel Koh Jia Wei comfortably in straight-sets 21-11, 21-14 to win the tie 3-2.
They will be up against the host Team MAS, who beat KOR 3-0; all hard victories in rubber-sets.
Both teams will likely field the same set of players, unless there are injuries. MAS is expected to win it comfortably either 3-0 or 3-1. But I am hoping Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin can give a fight and perhaps surprise us. Ditto for MD2, if the match is extended to that tie.