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KORAT, Thailand: Natsir Liliyana and Vita Marissa might be a relatively new women's doubles combination in the badminton world.
But, the Indonesians' superb form this season got the Singapore coaching staff so worried they decided to break up the seasoned pairing of world No 10 Jiang Yanmei and Li Yujia — the highest-ranked duo at the 24th SEA Games — for the women's team final clash here Monday.
The move failed spectacularly, as Singapore lost both women's doubles matches and the final singles clash, for Indonesia to take gold with a 3-2 win at the Vongchavalitkul University Gymnasium.
After Li Li had put Singapore 1-0 up with a 21-12, 21-23, 21-14 triumph over Maria Kristine Yulianti, the combination of Jiang and Frances Liu were simply no match for Natsir and Vita and the Indonesians levelled the scores at 1-1 with a slick 21-11, 21-13 win in just 27 minutes.
Xing Aiying restored the Republic's lead with a 21-14, 22-24, 21-14 win over Adriyanti Firdasari, but once again, the Indonesians drew level in the following doubles encounter.
Greysia Polii and Jo Novita whipped the new Singapore pair of Shinta Mulia Sari and Li 21-10, 21-14 for the match to go down to the wire.
In the singles finale, Pia Zebaidah Bernadet prevailed over Singapore teenager 17-year-old Fu Mingtian 21-15, 19-21, 21-10 to seal gold for her country.
While disappointed that the gamble didn't pay off, Singapore team manager Jacqueline Lim insisted there were no regrets.
"We were banking on the three singles and the second doubles," she said. "Unfortunately, Li and Shinta didn't perform to expectations.
"We knew the top Indonesian pair were going to be tough. We didn't think even Jiang and Li could manage.
"I've always thought the Indonesians were the strongest in this competition and they showed it today." - TODAY/ac
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