Indonesia beat Chinese Hong Kong 4-1 on Wednesday to qualify for the semifinals of the Sudirman Cup mixed team badminton championships.

The 1989 inaugural winners, who fell victim 3-2 to South Korea the opening day but came back on track after Tuesday's 4-1 victory over Denmark, accumulated 10 winning games in the three ties to top Division one Group B.

Three time winners South Korea joined Indonesia into the last four although they lost to European tycoon Denmark 3-2 in the other D1 Group B match on Wednesday. They won nine games in all from the three round-robin clashes, one game ahead of Denmark. 
South Korea will have to face titleholders China, who leads Group A, in a semifinal on Saturday.

Indonesia rested Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat from the men's singles and Sony Dwi Kuncoro, replacing Hidayat, beat Ng Wei of Chinese Hong Kong 21-16, 15-21, 21-17.

The mixed duo Limpele Flandy and Vita Marissa gave Indonesia a winning start as they outperformed Yohan Hadikusumo Wiratama and Hoi Wah Chau 21-11, 21-18. Sony then made it 2-0 for Indonesia.

Pui Yin Yip grabbed Chinese Hong Kong's only point in women's singles, beating Adriyanti Firdasari 21-10, 22-20. But Candra Wijaya and Yulianto Alvent put the tie beyond doubt with a 18-21 21-14 21-10 victory in the men's doubles over Albertus Susanto Njoto and Yohan Hadikusumo Wiratama.

Women's pair Greysia Polii and Lilyana Natsir conquered Wai Chee Koon and Hoi Wah Chau 21-7 19-21 21-8 to conclude the 4-1 win.

Indonesia doubles player Candra Wijaya, who came out of retirement, was delighted by the victory.

"Our target is to be champions," Wijaya said, "We have not come here just to participate."

"This tournament is very important to Indonesia. Our players will be doing our best to win this title. It will not be easy but we have a chance," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2007)