GUANGZHOU (China), May 17: Defending Thomas Cup champions Indonesia killed off Denmark’s hopes of a first-ever win in the team tournament, with a crushing 3-0 victory to set up a final showdown against Malaysia.

Indonesia battled hard to gain an early stranglehold on the contest that they never relinquished as they blasted their way to victory after two hours 45 minutes.

The defending champions, who have held the Cup since 1994, will now meet arch-rivals Malaysia, who upset favourites China in Thursday’s first semifinal.

Denmark and Indonesia had clashed at the same stage of the event in Kuala Lumpur two years earlier, with Indonesia narrowly scraping through 3-2 in an epic battle.

However, this semifinal encounter proved less dramatic for the Indonesians who were led by world number seven Marleve Mainaky with a battling 3-7, 6-8, 7-5, 7-0, 7-2 win over Kenneth Jonassen, ranked one place below him.

Jonassen started out the better to quickly open up a 2-0 advantage over a nerve-struck Mainaky.

But the Indonesian finally found his form to storm back to claim the next three for an incredible comeback win.

Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto then teamed up to overwhelm Martin Lund-gaard Hansen and Jens Eriksen 7-1, 7-2, 6-8, 7-4 with an almost flawless display to keep intact their unbeaten record in the tournament and give the Indonesians a commanding 2-0 lead.

After a slow start, comeback star Taufik Hidayat then galloped to a 6-8, 3-7, 7-5, 7-3, 7-1 win over fiery Dane Anders Boesen to give the holders an unbeatable 3-0 advantage to spark joyful scenes among the Indonesian squad.

Meanwhile, South Korea face a mission impossible against mighty China in the final of the Uber Cup team tournament here Saturday.

Thomas Cup results:

Semifinals:

Indonesia 3 Denmark 0

SINGLES: Marleve Mainaky (Ina) bt Kenneth Jonassen (Den) 3-7, 6-8, 7-5, 7-0, 7-2; Taufik Hidayat (Ina) bt Anders Boesen (Den) 6-8, 3-7, 7-5, 7-3, 7-1