India's Gopichand survives Sony's test<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): All England men's singles champion Pullela
\nGopichand of India survived a quarterfinals test on Friday over
\nhost newcomer Sony Dwi Kuncoro in a tough match in the US$170,000
\nSanyo Indonesian Open at the Bung Karno Indoor Stadium.<\/p>\n
Sony, the Asian Junior Championships runner-up, took the first
\ntwo games 7-3, 7-0 easily before suffering a drop in stamina
\ngiving a chance to the second seed Gopichand to bounce back and
\nwin the remaining three games 7-4, 7-5, 7-3.<\/p>\n
Dominating the court, Gopichand sent the 17-year-old Sony all
\nover the court but failed to grab more points especially when
\nboth shuttlers were engaged in netting play. Gopichand seemed
\nreluctant to smash and sent long lobs instead. Support from
\nnearly 1,500 spectators also helped Sony to remain motivated.<\/p>\n
\"Sony is a really good shuttler. He put me under pressure with
\nfast play in our first two games. I also made too many unforced
\nerrors,\" Gopichand told a post-match conference.<\/p>\n
\"In the third game, I noticed that he was very exhausted and
\nso took the offensive. I saved my energy in the first two games
\nwith long rallies. However, we had a very tough match today.\"<\/p>\n
Sony said he started to underestimate his Indian opponent
\nafter leading 2-0.<\/p>\n
\"I was very surprised to learn how easy it was to lead 2-0 and
\nI thought I should loosen my grip when I was leading 4-1 in the
\nthird game. But Gopichand managed to win point after point, which
\nreally shocked me,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Entering the fourth game, I lost my confidence and was unable
\nto play at my best. Maybe I wasn't mentally ready to be such a
\nsuccess.\"<\/p>\n
Despite the defeat, Sony said it was his biggest achievement
\nso far and he was very lucky to be able to challenge world class
\nshuttlers including Richard Vaughan of Wales and Gopichand.<\/p>\n
World ranked eight Gopichand will challenge another Indonesian
\nMarlev Mainaky, who easily defeated Agus Harianto of Hong Kong 7-
\n5, 7-3, 7-4.<\/p>\n
In another semifinals match, Lee Hyung-il of South Korea will
\nmeet Lee Tsuen Seng of Malaysia. The Korean top seed defeated
\nMalaysian James Chua 7-3, 1-7, 7-4, 7-3.<\/p>\n
Lee Tsuen Seng, runner up at the Swiss Open earlier this year,
\nhad to use up all his energy to overcome Colin Haughton of
\nEngland 7-3, 7-8, 2-7, 7-2, 7-2.<\/p>\n
Women's singles top seed Wang Chen of Hong Kong cruised to the
\nsemifinals after outclassing Ng Mee Fen of Malaysia 7-4, 7-4, 7-
\n0. Wang will meet host Cindana Hartono who beat Japanese Mika
\nAnjo 7-0, 7-3, 7-0.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has already secured a place in the final as second
\nseed Lidya Djaelawidjaya will be challenged by compatriot Ellen
\nAngelina in Saturday's semifinals.<\/p>\n
Lidya defeated Louisa Koon Wai Chee of Hong Kong 7-4, 5-7, 3-
\n7, 7-2, 7-1 and Ellen crushed Japanese Maiko Naka 7-4, 7-2, 7-1.<\/p>\n
The host crowd was stunned when top mixed doubles pair Bambang
\nSuprianto and Minarti Timur were ousted by fifth seeds Nathan
\nRobertson and Gail Emms of England 7-4, 7-3, 5-7, 7-4.<\/p>\n
\"Bambang and Minarti were one of our hurdles to reach the
\nfinals. But I will just take it match by match and concentrate on
\nthe semifinals where we will meet another strong Indonesian
\npair,\" Emms said after the match.<\/p>\n
Robertson and Emms will then face Tri Kusheryanto and Emma
\nErmawati, who upset third seeds Michael Lamp and Ann Lou
\nJorgensen of Denmark 7-5, 7-0, 7-4.<\/p>\n
Host's second seeds Nova Widhianto and Vita Marissa cruised to
\nthe semifinals and will face Danish pair, fourth seeds Frederik
\nBergstrom and Jenny Karlson.<\/p>\n
World champions Tony Gunawan and Halim Heryanto were lucky
\nenough to cruise to the semifinals when Bambang and Tri, playing
\nin the men's doubles, had to retire due to Bambang's injured
\nankle while leading 1-0 in the third game. Bambang and Tri were
\nahead 7-5, 7-2 in the first two games.<\/p>\n
Tony and Halim will meet compatriots Davis Efraim and Karel
\nMainaky who defeated Malaysian fourth seeds Che Hong Ma and Kwun
\nYuen Yau 1-7, 8-7, 7-5, 7-4, 7-2. (nvn)<\/p>",
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