The last local hope, the mixed doubles pair of Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir, lost Sunday in the final of the 250,000 U.S. dollars tournament. The Indonesians fell 21-16, 21-11 to fifth seeds Zheng Bo and Gao Ling of China.

China's Zheng Bo (second right) and Gao Lin (right) pose with their medals after winning mixed doubles final game against Indonesia's Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir in the Indonesia Open Super Series May 13, 2007. [Xinhua]

"The defeat puts our goal of winning back the Sudirman Cup in serious risk. Nova and Lilyana are among our main hopes for the event. This may be their poorest showing," the Jakarta Post daily Mondat quoted Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) chairman Sutiyoso as saying.

"I am very disappointed and displeased with their performance. Even the fans went home before the match ended."

Indonesia is gearing up for the Sudirman Cup in Glasgow, Scotland, from June 11-17. The country won the coveted title in its maiden event in Jakarta in 1989.

Asked how the PBSI planned to respond to the disappointing show at the Indonesia Open, Sutiyoso said: "We will try to get Rexy to come back and coach our doubles."

Sutiyoso was referring to Rexy Mainaky, the 1996 Olympics gold medalist in the men's doubles with partner Ricky Subagdja. He now coaches Malaysia.

Two of his players, Mohd. Zakry Abdul Latif and Mohd. Fairuzizuan Mohd. Tazari, reached the men's doubles final, falling to Chinese world champions Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun 21-17, 22-20.

"I will also dismiss the men's doubles pair of Luluk Hadiyanto and Alvent Yulianto (from the team) as they have shown no progress. We may invite Candra (Wijaya) back," Sutiyoso added.

Candra won gold at the 2000 Olympics with men's doubles partner Tony Gunawan.

Sutiyoso said the mixed doubles pair of Flandy Limpele and Vita Marissa, who won the recent Singapore Open, might be tapped to replace Nova and Lilyana on the squad if they did not show improved play.

Nova acknowledged after the final that they played "below par".

"We were too tense and under heavy pressure as we were the only hope left for a title."

Lilyana said they tried everything to put their opponents on their heels, but nothing seemed to work.

"They seemed to anticipate everything we did," she said.

China came close to a sweep of the titles at the Indonesia Open, but Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia crashed the party by defeating world No. 2 Bao Chunlai 21-15, 21-16 in the men's singles.