Flandy\/Eng Hian optimistic about All England semis<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia world number two men's doubles Flandy
\nLimpele and Eng Hian showed optimism to reach the four-star 2001
\nYonex All England Open semifinals despite Flandy's weak physical
\ncondition after suffering influenza in the last few days.<\/p>\n
\"Flandy was sick for several days and I realize that he may
\nnot be able to reach his peak form. I have spoken to him about
\nour chances at the All England. I don't want us just to go there
\nwithout any target.\"<\/p>\n
\"He assured me that he has recovered 80 percent of his
\nphysical condition and we expect to reach the semifinals,\" Eng
\nHian told The Jakarta Post in a telephone interview.<\/p>\n
The Danish pair of Jens Eriksen and Jesper Larsen are second
\nseeds at the event to be slated in Birmingham, England, from
\nMarch 7 to March 11.<\/p>\n
Malaysians Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah are third seeds
\nfollowed by fourth seeds Martin Lundgaard Hansen and Lars Paaske
\nof Denmark and fifth seeds Simon Archer and Nathan Robertson of
\nEngland.<\/p>\n
With the absence of South Koreans Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong-
\nsung and Kim Dong-moon and Ha Tae-kwon, Flandy and Eng Hian have
\na good chance of winning the title.<\/p>\n
\"With their absence, we'll have a great chance. But we must be
\naware of the European pairs as they made great progress, which we
\nsaw at the Korean Open,\" Eng Hian said.<\/p>\n
\"We have to perform all out and keep on fighting from the
\nfirst game.\"<\/p>\n
In the men's singles, Indonesians Hendrawan and last year's
\nrunner up Taufik Hidayat are fourth and fifth seeds respectively,
\nfollowing top seed Peter Gade Christensen of Denmark, defending
\nchampion Xia Xuanze of China as second seed and Chinese third
\nseed Ji Xinpeng. Indonesian dark horse Marlev Mainaky is the
\nseventh seed.<\/p>\n
Taufik, banned from the Korea Open and World Grand Prix
\nFinals, admitted that his preparation was not sufficient.<\/p>\n
\"I can't set my target too high although I made it to the
\nfinal last year. I'll just do my best,\" he told reporters.
\n\"However, it has become my personal ambition to grab the title
\nthis year.\"<\/p>\n
Taufik's preparation has been colored by his protest against
\nthe decision of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) not
\nto include coach Mulyo Handoyo in its training center, but the
\ndecision was revised and Mulyo will coach the 19-year-old
\nshuttler until the Sudirman Cup and World Championships in
\nSeville, Spain, in May.<\/p>\n
Separately, Hendrawan said he also lacked physical fitness for
\nthe event.<\/p>\n
\"I undergo additional physical training sessions under the
\nsupervision of Paulus Pasurnay to improve my physical fitness,\"
\nhe said. \"I can't promise anything but will just do my best
\nhere.\"<\/p>\n
Re-duel<\/p>\n
Dane Camilla Martin tops the women's singles seeds and is
\nexpected to re-duel with Olympic gold medalist Gong Zhichao of
\nChina in the final.<\/p>\n
China dominates the event with Dai Yun as second, Gong Ruina
\nas third and Zhou Mi as sixth seeds. None of the Indonesian
\nshuttlers are seeded in the event.<\/p>\n
In the women's doubles, Helene Kirkegaard and Rikke Olsen of
\nDenmark are the top seeds followed by compatriots Mette
\nSchjoldager and Ann-Lou Jorgensen.<\/p>\n
Chinese Chen Lin and Jiang Xuelian are third followed by
\nanother Danish pair of Majken Vange and Pernille Harder as fourth
\nseeds. Indonesia has Deyana Lomban and Carmelita as the fifth
\nseeds.<\/p>\n
With the split of Indonesian Olympics silver medalists Tri
\nKusheryanto and Minarti Timur, none of the Indonesian pairs are
\nseeded in the mixed doubles, leaving Danish Michael Soogard and
\nRikke Olsen as the top seeds.<\/p>\n
Olympics gold medalist Zhang Jun and Gao Ling of China trail
\nas the second seeds.<\/p>\n
The draw is expected to be made on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, worldbadminton.net reported on Tuesday that the
\nAsian Badminton Confederation (ABC) announced the third Asia Cup
\nwill take place in Singapore from May 2 to May 6.<\/p>\n
The men's team event featuring two singles and one doubles is
\noffering a total prize fund of US$170,000 with the winning team
\nset to take home a massive $80,000 or $20,000 per player - higher
\nthan any current individual event.<\/p>\n
Defending champion Indonesia won in 1997 in Jakarta and in
\n1999 at Ho Chi Minh City. It is also widely tipped to take the
\ncup home for the third consecutive time.<\/p>\n
Eight teams will contest the Cup - Indonesia, China, Korea,
\nMalaysia, India, Singapore, Thailand and either Hong Kong or
\nChinese Taipei. (nvn\/yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/flandyeng-hian-optimistic-about-all-england-semis-1447893297",
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