A day after shocking 2006 Doha silver medalists India with a blowout victory in the first round of the women’s team event, the Indonesian women’s team fell 3-0 to Thailand at the Aoti Tennis Center on Sunday.
Indonesia’s first singles player Ayu Fani Damayanti lost to Noppawan Lertcheewakarn 6-3, 6-1 in the opening match of the tie. In the second singles match, Thai veteran Tamarin Tanasugaran saw off Lavinia Tananta 6-2, 7-5.
Indonesia’s doubles pair Yayuk Basuki and Jessy Rompies lost to Luangnam Nudnida and Varatchaya Wongteanchai in three sets, 3-6, 7-5, 5-7, putting the tie beyond contention.
“We tried our best but we failed. But this does not mean this is the end,” said Yayuk, who won gold in the women’s doubles at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games and again at the 1990 Beijing Asian Games, and gold in the singles at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.
“I think the team has given their best but Thailand is obviously stronger than our team,” said Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng. “This is not the time to talk about the defeat but rather to find a solution to improve the country’s tennis performance.”
Tono Suratman, the head of Indonesia’s contingent at the Games, said the team’s defeat was disappointing.
“They finished second at the 2009 Laos SEA Games and that is why they were sent here. But unfortunately the result was far from our expectations,” he said adding that a thorough evaluation of the women’s team’s performance would be carried out ahead of next year’s Southeast Asian Games in Palembang, South Sumatra.
“Tennis really needs new blood. I was wondering why Yayuk [Basuki] was still playing at this event,”
he said.
— JP/Matheos Viktor Messakh
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