Hong Kong notched their first ever victory in the Uber Cup Finals when the women's team edged Indonesia in a five-rubber thriller in Guangzhou last night.
'We're very excited to have to won this match. We've never won a clash in the Uber Cup Finals,' said Hong Kong coach Chan Chi-choi after the opening group clash went down to the wire with Wang Chen and Koon Wai-chee bouncing back to win the second doubles - the fifth and decisive rubber - 3-2 over Eny Erlangga and Jo Hovita.
Hong Kong earned automatic entry to the 1996 and 1998 events as hosts but lost all their matches. The SAR qualified on merit this time. 'We last beat Indonesia in the the semi-finals in Melbourne but we were under no pressure as both teams had qualified for the finals. But both teams were nervous today, but we had a better day,' said Chan.
'It was a tough test for our three singles players as they had to play in both the singles and doubles. Their play in the doubles was obviously affected. We were short of players and we had the same problem in Melbourne.'
World number eight Wang and 22nd-ranked Ling Wan-ting took Hong Kong to a 2-0 lead after defeating Lidya Djaelawijaya and Ellen Angelina, both on a 3-1 scoreline, in the opening two singles. However, Indonesia levelled at 2-2 after Yuli Marfuah beat Koon 3-0 in the third singles and the Deyana Lombah and Vita Marisa pairing overcame Ling and Li Wing-mui in straight games in the second doubles. But it was the SAR who had the final say.