Indonesia assured of men's singles crown<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Olympic champion Alan Budikusuma assured
\nIndonesia of the men's singles crown at the US$170,000 Indonesia
\nOpen badminton championships when he joined his all-conquering
\nteam to sweep all four semifinal berths yesterday.<\/p>\n
Alan, fresh from his Malaysia Open victory last Sunday, did
\nnot need to wait too long for a place in today's semifinals when
\nSouth Korean second seed Park Sung-woo was forced out of the
\ntournament with broken Achilles' tendon.<\/p>\n
Alan led the first set 12-10 when world number two Park
\nretired. Asia champion Park surprised the crowd, which who filled
\nthe Senayan indoor stadium, when he tumbled after rounding his
\nbody for Alan's wide lob.<\/p>\n
Park lay motionless for about ten minutes before he was
\nstretchered off the court for medical treatment.<\/p>\n
Park was the only non-Indonesian player to reach yesterday's
\nmen's singles quarterfinals but could have spoiled Indonesia's
\nbid for the prestigious title.<\/p>\n
Alan, inspired by his fiancee Susi Susanti's win, displayed
\nhis best form to go up 9-6 and 12-7. Park, however, produced a
\nbrilliant comeback. He sped up the rhythm to wear out Alan's
\npatience, leaving the home crowd sitting restlessly on their
\nbenches.<\/p>\n
The crowd appeared to find an outlet for their tension when
\nPark fell, giving the South Korean a standing count as a referee
\ndoes when a boxer who is knocked down.<\/p>\n
Alan will now meet former world champion Joko Suprianto who
\nstruggled to beat his junior Lioe Tiong Ping 15-6, 18-15
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Top seed and world champion Hariyanto Arbi will play title
\nholder Ardy Wiranata for the other final spot today. Hariyanto
\nput friendship on the back burner to grind out an easy 15-3, 15-5
\nwin over Marleve Mainaky. Ardy also had a little trouble
\ndisposing of old war horse Hermawan Susanto in straight sets 15-
\n10, 15-6.<\/p>\n
Women's singles<\/p>\n
The women's singles draw went as expected yesterday with the
\ntop four seeds securing semifinal berths.<\/p>\n
While Susi and other two favorites labored, South Korean
\nnumber one seed Bang Soo-hyun broke no sweat on her way to
\nreaching the final four round. Bang did everything right to
\nsteamroll unheralded Chinese Dai Yun 11-0, 11-3.<\/p>\n
Bang now sets up an all-South Korean semifinal against Kim Ji-
\nhyun who doused local heroine Lidya Djaelawijaya's fire with a
\ncome-from-behind 5-11, 11-6, 11-2 win.<\/p>\n
Malaysia Open winner Susi scared her fans when she dropped a
\nset in her thrilling match against another South Korean Ra Kyung-
\nmin. Susi, however, managed to calm her nerves to claim an 11-6,
\n5-11, 11-5 victory after 50 minutes of play.<\/p>\n
Susi will renew her long rivalry against her China-born Swede
\nLim Xiaoqing for a place in tomorrow's final. Lim bounced back
\nfrom a first set loss to beat struggling home favorite Yuliani
\nSentosa 7-11, 11-3, 11-6.<\/p>\n
Lim upset Susi in the All-England semifinals last March, but
\nsuffered a rout in their last meeting in the Malaysia Open
\nsemifinals last week. \"I'm not saying I have a big chance of
\nbeating Susi on her home ground, but I will make her struggle,\"
\nLim said. (amd)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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