Ardy, Hariyanto get bye at HK Open<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): World number one Ardy Wiranata and world number
\nfour Hariyanto Arbi, will get a bye into the second round in the
\nmen's singles of the Hong Kong Open badminton championships,
\nwhich starts today at the Queen Elizabeth stadium.<\/p>\n
But the road could still be rough for the two Indonesians
\nbecause in the third round, reigning All-England champion
\nHariyanto, who is seeded first, will likely meet Chinese dark
\nhorse, Lin Liwen, while Ardy, who is seeded second, will play
\nMalaysian Ong Hwe Hock, whom many say is a budding candidate for
\nworld number one.<\/p>\n
In the semifinals, Hariyanto is expected to play either title
\nholder Hermawan Susanto or Barcelona Olympic gold medalist Alan
\nBudikusuma, while Ardy might have to lock horns with top Dane
\nplayer Thomas Stuer Lauridsen.<\/p>\n
In the first round of the women's singles, however, Indonesian
\nshuttlers seem to have been overlooked by the IBF in the absence
\nof world number one and Barcelona Olympic champion Susi Susanti,
\nwho will only play doubles with Carmelita.<\/p>\n
Of the nine female shuttlers Indonesia is fielding in the
\nwomen's singles, only Yuliani Santoso is seeded. She ranks fifth,
\nfar below South Korean Bang Soo-hyun, the hot-favorite to win in
\nthe women's singles.<\/p>\n
But Yuliani's chance to win might go with the wind because in
\nthe second round, Yuliani will meet China's Yao Yan, who ousted
\nher at the recently concluded Thailand Open.<\/p>\n
In the men's doubles, Indonesia fields Hiroshima Asian Games
\nchampions Ricky Achmad Subagja and Rexy Ronald Mainaky, who are
\nfirst seeded, veteran pairs Bambang Suprianto and Gunawan and
\nchampions of the Thailand Open, Denny Kantono and Antonius.<\/p>\n
Given their performance record, all the Indonesian pairs
\nshould prove to be too strong for their opponents. An all-
\nIndonesia final in the men's doubles is thus expected. (arf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ardy-hariyanto-get-bye-at-hk-open-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}