Budi one step away from All England title<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia's sole surviving shuttler Budi Santoso will challenge
\nChina's Chen Hong for the men's title in the All England
\nbadminton championships in Birmingham on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The unseeded Budi reached the final after defeating fourth
\nseeding Lin Dan from China in a thrilling five set match Saturday
\nafternoon.<\/p>\n
"It was an incredible performance," Indonesian Team Manager
\nChristian Hadinata said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
"Definitely his best ever."<\/p>\n
Christian also praised coach Agus Dwi Santoso who guided the
\nyoung unheralded Indonesian to the pinnacle of his performance.<\/p>\n
"Coach Agus anticipated Lin Dan's deadly smash and instructed
\nBudi not to give up easy lobs," he said.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead to Sunday's big game, Christian noted that Budi
\nshould immediately focus on regaining his physical stamina since
\nthe match with Lin Dan was extremely draining.<\/p>\n
"If he can maintain his physical condition and perform without
\nany psychological burden like today, he has a good chance of
\nbecoming champion," Christian remarked.<\/p>\n
Chen Hong will be favorite in winning the coveted title. He
\nshowed his worth as second-seed by brushing aside in straight
\nsets fellow countryman Bao Chunlai 8-7, 7-2, 7-5.<\/p>\n
The news of Budi's progress was heartwarming for the
\nIndonesian contingent who did not send the top men's shuttler
\nHendrawan due to illness. In fact the Indonesian team did not
\neven enter a single women's shuttler.<\/p>\n
Indonesia also had hopes in the doubles after top seeds Sigit
\nBudiarto\/Candra Wijaya edged out Jeremy Gan\/Ng Kean Kok of
\nMalaysia 7-5, 7-3, 7-4, to reach the semis. Sigit and Candra are
\nstill playing Ha Tae-Kwon\/Kim Dong-Moon for a final ticket as of
\npress time.<\/p>\n
The other semifinalists are Chinese Cheng Rui\/Wang Wei and
\nFlandy Limpele\/Eng Hian, the former Indonesian pair now playing
\nfor England.<\/p>\n
Earlier on the day, Denmark's Camilla Martin kept the European
\nflag flying with a gutsy 7-5 1-7 7-4 7-2 quarter-final victory
\nover Chinese number two seed Zhang Ning.<\/p>\n
Martin, world champion in 1999 but seeded only five here, had
\ntoo much guile for her opponent who struggled to find any
\nfluency.<\/p>\n
The Dane is the only European left in both the men's and
\nwomen's singles and once again finds herself carrying the banner
\nagainst the might of Asia.<\/p>\n
Martin, 27, said: "I have to keep going. I've done it before
\nand it's difficult to be alone against the Chinese army. But they
\nhave respect for me and I have respect for them."<\/p>\n
Her opponent in the semifinals is China's Dai Yun, the woman
\nshe beat in the world championship final three years ago. Martin
\nsaid: "She's the player I have most respect for."<\/p>",
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