Hariyanto beats Taufik to clinch Singapore Open title, plans to shift<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (AFP): Indonesian badminton ace Hariyanto Arbi swept
\nto victory in the Singapore Open singles final Sunday -- and then
\nlifted the lid on his surprise decision to quit his country for
\nSingapore.<\/p>\n
Hari, nicknamed for Hariyanto, the world number 30 and 15th
\nseed here, came from a set down to defeat compatriot Taufik
\nHidayat 13-15, 15-10, 15-11 in the final.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old's switch of allegiance from Indonesia to
\nSingapore had been the main talking point prior to the final.<\/p>\n
\"I am definitely playing for Singapore after this tournament -
\nwin or lose,\" said Hari, a two-time All-England champion and 1996
\nOlympics semifinalist.<\/p>\n
Hari said he wanted to play for Singapore because of limited
\nopportunities back home.<\/p>\n
\"It's very hard to keep your place in the Indonesian team
\nbecause there are so many good players,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hari had said he received an offer to represent China Taipei
\nbut preferred Singapore \"because it's much closer to home.\"<\/p>\n
Hari, the 1997 Singapore Open champion, had the crowd on their
\nfeet when he gave a polished 40-minute performance against the
\nrising star of Indonesian badminton Taufik.<\/p>\n
The 18-year-old Taufik, fresh from his triumph in the
\nSoutheast Asian Games in Brunei, was off to a quick start with
\nsome smart attacking play to take the opening game 15-13.<\/p>\n
But the more experienced Hari, who was also 1995 world
\nchampion, slowed the pace down considerably. He took his time to
\nserve, toweled himself and asked for a change of shuttle to upset
\nhis teenage opponent's rhythm.<\/p>\n
A lead of 6-1 was, however, not enough for him to press ahead
\nas Taufik engaged him in net play and drew level at 7-7. The
\nplayers went neck and neck till 10-10 before Hari moved up a gear
\nand finished off the game with a series of leaping smashes that
\nhad the crowd screaming for more.<\/p>\n
The decider again saw Hari, nicknamed \"Jumping Jack Flash\" for
\nhis trademark leaping smash, quick off the blocks and leading 7-
\n3.<\/p>\n
But Taufik was not ready to give in. He not only fought back
\nto level at seven but led 8-7 at the change of ends.<\/p>\n
Another two points were all that Taufik could score
\nthereafter, as Hari again employed his slowing down tactics to
\nperfection and squeezed ahead. The sudden change of pace caught
\nHidayat unawares and, before he knew it, he was facing match-
\npoint at 14-10.<\/p>\n
Hari succeeded on his fourth match point to pocket the
\nUS$12,000 first prize. Taufik had to remain content with half the
\namount.<\/p>\n
In the women's final, China's Ye Zhaoying retained her crown
\ndefeating compatriot Gong Zhichao.<\/p>\n
Ye won 11-5, 5-11, 11-7 in a keenly contested final.<\/p>\n
Ye's tactics of attempting to overpower Gong seemed to work as
\nshe breezed through the opening game 11-5, only to find herself
\nhitting a wall as Gong retrieved well to level the match at the
\nsame score, 11-5.<\/p>\n
It was a more cautious Ye that took the court for the decider
\nand chose her moments of attack judiciously to wrap up the final
\nwith a 11-7 win.<\/p>\n
Ye was $10,350 richer for her efforts, while Gong had to
\nsettle for $4,950.<\/p>\n
Indonesia failed to fulfill its ambition to bring home two
\ntitles as men's doubles of Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan, second
\nseeded, had to bow out to Malaysian pairs of Choong Tan Fook and
\nLee Wan Wah 15-7, 14-15, 15-12.<\/p>\n
In the women's doubles, top seeded Chinese pairs of Huang
\nNanyan and Yang Wei were too powerful for Indonesian duo of
\nIndarti Issolina and Carmelita to win 15-3, 15-8.<\/p>\n
Results<\/p>\n
Men's singles: Hariyanto Arbi (Ina x15) bt Taufik Hidayat
\n(Ina x8) 13-15, 15-10, 15-11<\/p>\n
Women's singles: Ye Zhaoying (Chn x2) bt Gong Zhichao (Chn x3)
\n11-5, 5-11, 11-7<\/p>\n
Men's doubles: Choong Tan Fook\/Lee Wan Wah (Mal) bt Candra
\nWijaya\/Tony Gunawan (Ina x2) 15-7, 14-15, 15-12.<\/p>\n
Women's doubles: Huang Nanyan\/Yang Wei (Chn x1) bt Indarti
\nIssolina\/Carmelita (Ina) 15-3, 15-8<\/p>",
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