Defending champs Djarum to face top seed Jaya Raya<\/p>\n
By Novan Iman Santosa<\/p>\n
BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan (JP): Defending champion Djarum
\nKudus of Central Java will challenge top seed and competition
\nfavorites Jaya Raya of Jakarta in a clash of the titans at the
\nInter-club National Badminton Championship final at the
\nHasanuddin HM Sport Hall Saturday.<\/p>\n
Djarum, second seeded at the event, crushed third seed Tangkas
\nof Jakarta 3-0. The remaining two matches were not featured as
\nthey were no longer decisive.<\/p>\n
Former world champion Sigit Budiarto and Olympic silver
\nmedalist Minarti Timur were too powerful for Nova Widhianto and
\nEny Widyowati, easily winning 15-8, 15-6 in the mixed doubles
\nopening match.<\/p>\n
Djarum earned the second winning point after women's singles
\nEllen Angelina defeated Mona Santoso 11-3, 11-3.<\/p>\n
The Central Java club -- which has produced several top
\ncaliber players, including Hariyanto Arbi, Liem Swie King and
\nChristian Hadinata -- sealed its victory after Budi Santoso
\ntriumphed over world number eight Marlev Mainaky 15-12, 13-15,
\n15-2 in the men's singles.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Friday, Djarum convincingly defeated Wima of
\nSurabaya 3-0 in the quarterfinals, while Tangkas defeated Mutiara
\nElvana of Bandung 3-1.<\/p>\n
Jaya Raya players had to lift their work rate to eliminate
\nfourth seed Sangkuriang Graha Sarana (SGS) of Bandung and secure
\ntheir finals berth.<\/p>\n
Bambang Suprihanto and Indarti Issoliana produced the first
\npoint for Jaya Raya after working hard to overcome Flandy Limpele
\nand Nira N 11-15, 15-4, 15-3.<\/p>\n
Their lead was dissolved when Lidya Djaelawijaya lost to SGS's
\nYuli Marfuah 6-11, 5-11 in the women's singles.<\/p>\n
World number five Taufik Hidayat of SGS survived his test by
\ntaming Hendra 15-4, 11-15, 15-8 in a performance buoyed by
\nsupport from a full-house of around 2,000 spectators.<\/p>\n
Deyana Lomban and Carmelita gave Jaya Raya some breathing
\nspace as they managed to trounce Monika and Lita Nurlita 15-3,
\n15-3.<\/p>\n
In the do-or-die match, Olympic gold medalists Candra Wijaya
\nand Tony Gunawan proved their mastery by ousting Flandy Limpele
\nand Halim Heryanto 15-10, 15-1.<\/p>\n
Halim seemed unable to overcome the pressure in the deciding
\nmatch and made many unforced errors, particularly in the second
\ngame.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the quarterfinals Jaya Raya managed to tame
\nSurabaya-based Surya Naga Gudang Garam 3-2 in a very close match,
\nwhile SGS beat local team Bina Benua 3-0.<\/p>\n
In the National Junior Championships, being held
\nsimultaneously at the same venue, Java-based shuttlers continued
\nto dominate the event, although East Kalimantan's shuttlers
\nsurprised the crowds when they cruised to final.<\/p>\n
East Kalimantan's first surprise was Robby Istianto and
\nYusuf's victory over Hendra and Bambang of West Java 6-15, 17-14,
\n15-13 in the boys doubles. They will meet Yan Pieter and Tri Heru
\nof Jakarta who defeated Central Java's Aji Basuki and Prasetyo
\n17-14, 15-4.<\/p>\n
Another East Kalimantan upset was Yusuf and Fermy Keintjem's
\nvictory over Central Java's Rizal and Veronica 15-7, 15-9,
\nsetting them a finals date with Hendra and Marlina of West Java
\nwho defeated Sri Hartoko and Firbaya of Central Java 15-7, 15-4.<\/p>\n
After the match, Robby told reporters that East Kalimantan's
\nprogress was a result of its training in West Java.<\/p>\n
\"I've been in West Java's training camp for about two years
\nimproving my skills. I will just freely play my best game in the
\nfinal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I have met the Jakarta pair several times and lost most of
\nthe time,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Sonny Dwi Kuncoro of East Java beat Markis Kido of Jakarta 17-
\n14, 15-2, and will now meet Adriansyah who defeated teammate
\nTaufik Hidayat 15-11, 15-9.<\/p>\n
\"I will do my best in Saturday's final match. I have met
\nAdriansyah several times and already know his style,\" Sonny told
\nreporters after the match.<\/p>\n
They have met seven times with Adriansyah leading the matchup
\nso far by 4-3.<\/p>\n
Maria Christin of Central Java defeated Fitria Firdaus 11-7,
\n11-7, securing her a finals berth in the girls singles opposite
\nDian Novita of Central Java who beat Dewi Tira of East Java 11-3,
\n11-2.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/defending-champs-djarum-to-face-top-seed-jaya-raya-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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