Hariyanto, Mia win Konica Cup<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (Reuter): Former world champion Hariyanto Arbi
\nbattled back against whirlwind Indonesian compatriot Indra Wijaya
\nto win the men's singles Konica Cup title 3-15, 18-14, 15-9
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Precocious 17-year-old second seed Mia Audina made it a
\nsingles sweep for Indonesia with a stunning defeat of top-seeded
\nworld number three Gong Zhichao of China 11-12, 11-8, 11-4.<\/p>\n
Indra, the fifth seed who produced the shock of the tournament
\nby ousting Chinese top seed Sun Jun in the semifinals, looked
\nlike he was going all the way he overwhelmed Arbi in the first
\nset, then took a 6-0 lead in the second.<\/p>\n
But the second-seeded Hariyanto, nicknamed Hari, clawed his
\nway back into the match by changing tactics, slowing things down
\nand drawing Indra into long rallies and prompting unforced errors
\nthat eventually gave him the 23-minute second set 18-14.<\/p>\n
Hari kept control to win the third set and take home the
\nUS$11,000 first prize, but Indra was also happy.<\/p>\n
"I'm still happy in defeat as I didn't expect to get this
\nfar," said Wijaya, a month before the World Cup in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The women played an equally tight first set, with Gong just
\nholding on to take it 12-11, but after that Mia, consistently
\nshowing the ability to wrong-foot her opponent, had the edge.<\/p>\n
The young Indonesian, seeded second, ran Gong ragged in the
\nsecond set to take it 11-8 and then seemed to get even stronger
\nto wrap up the title with an eight-minute third set.<\/p>\n
Gong said: "She has many variations in her game and has
\nimproved tremendously since we last played. She is also easily
\namong the craftiest players on the circuit right now. She played
\nvery well and deserved to win."<\/p>\n
Results (prefix number denotes seeding)<\/p>\n
Men's singles:
\n 2-Hariyanto Arbi (Ina) bt 5-Indra Wijaya (Ina) 3-15, 18-14, 15-9<\/p>\n
Women's singles:
\n 2-Mia Audina (Ina) bt 1-Gong Zhichao (Chn) 11-12, 11-8, 11-4<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hariyanto-mia-win-konica-cup-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}