Friday October 23, 2009
Unknown Angga-Rendy pair the one to beat
INDONESIANS Angga Pratama and Rendy Sugiarto Younes were virtually unknown when they stole the thunder from the more established pairs to bag the Asian Juniors boys’ doubles title in Kuala Lumpur in July.
The team’s doubles coach, Namrih Suroto, said yesterday that the triumph had made Angga-Rendy, who only formed in April, marked men in the World Juniors.
“Every other pair now want to beat them in Alor Setar,” said Namrih, who takes charge of the pair together with former Indonesian star Bambang Suprianto.
“It is only natural that the pressure should come with the territory. They have gone through mental preparations prior to arriving here and I hope they will be able to live up to their favourites’ tag.”
Dazzling duo: Rendy Sugiarto (right) and Angga Pratama. In the Asian Juniors, Angga-Rendy broke Malaysian hearts by defeating Yew Hong Kheng-Ow Yao Han 21-15, 21-16 in the final. To underline their prowess, they won the title without dropping a single game.
Indonesia are looking at the individual events to end their 17-year title drought in the annual Under-19 championships.
They are almost resigned to missing the semi-final in the mixed team event after being drawn in the same group as top seeds China.
“If it had been any other team, Indonesia stand a fighting chance of winning. But China are a class above the rest,” said Namrih.
“But this does not mean that we are throwing in the towel without a fight. Malaysia proved that China can be beaten in the Asian Juniors and we will give our best against them on Saturday.”
The other opponents for Indonesia in Group W are Russia, New Zealand and Macau. Only the champions in the four-group preliminaries advance to the semi-finals.
Sports Poll
- Koo-Tan seek fifth title after hammering Taiwanese
- Wei Feng and Kwong Beng in all-Malaysian men’s singles final
- Real Madrid leads in Spain as Barcelona slips up
- Delighted Jorgensen sets up final clash with Lin Dan
- Football: Blues go marching on
- Nicol taken to the limit by Massaro
- No joy for Liverpool
- Federer and Nadal have score to settle at ATP Tour Finals
- Cantona slams Henry and coach Domenech
- Bernard ends Malaysia’s 15-year wait for SEASA title
- Real Madrid leads in Spain as Barcelona slips up
- Auxerre beats Monaco 2-0 to take French lead
- Delighted Jorgensen sets up final clash with Lin Dan
- Nicol taken to the limit by Massaro
- Red Warriors are FAM’s top revenue earners
- IAAF keep mum over Semenya gender row
- Pacquiao vs Cotto the top bout of 2009
- Beach volleyball players put in extra hours for bid to get gold
- Trezeguet hit by injury again
- Football Results Worldwide
RSS
