Indonesians sweep World Cup badminton championship singles<\/p>\n
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (Agencies): Indonesia has lived up
\nto its billing as the world badminton dominators by taking all
\nthe singles titles at the World Cup here yesterday.<\/p>\n
All-England two-time winner Hariyanto Arbi won the men's crown
\nwhen his opponent, Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen of Denmark, withdrew
\nwith a broken leg. In the women's singles, Susi Susanti
\nmaintained her rule with a 12-9, 11-6 victory over South Korean
\nBang Soo-hyun.<\/p>\n
Making their first appearance after their memorable Uber Cup
\nwin, the women's doubles pair of Lili Tampi and Finarsih joined
\nthe triumphant by defeating world number one Chung Soo-young and
\nGil Young-ah 15-11, 15-12.<\/p>\n
Top men's doubles of Bambang Suprianto and Rudy Gunawan failed
\nto complete the clean sweep as they fell to Malaysia's Cheah Soon
\nKit and Soo Beng Kiang 13-18, 15-2, 17-18 in a dramatic final.<\/p>\n
The results, however, were more than a confidence booster for
\nthe Indonesians, who are seeking all five titles at stake in this
\nweek's grand prix tournament on home soil.<\/p>\n
Hariyanto said he did not want to win the tournament that way.<\/p>\n
\"I expected a tough final, but I was confident I would win,\"
\nsaid the world number three, who edged out teammate Ardy Wiranata
\nin Saturday's semifinals.<\/p>\n
Stuer-Lauridsen, the top European in the tournament, pulled a
\nsurprise victory over world champion Joko Suprianto in a rubber-
\nset match which lasted an hour on Saturday.<\/p>\n
After reaching the finals, he broke his leg 10 minutes into
\nthe first game, going for a drop shot from Hariyanto to his
\nright. He played on for another two serves from Hariyanto before
\nwithdrawing with the score 9-7 to the Indonesian.<\/p>\n
His compatriot Thomas Lund collected the runner-up's US$6,800
\nprize for him.<\/p>\n
Hariyanto, for whom it was a third tournament victory this
\nyear, took home $11,050.<\/p>\n
Seventh victory<\/p>\n
World and Olympic champion Susi controlled the game well
\nwith flawless net play to neutralize the Korean's attacks, which
\nsurprisingly toppled Ye Zhaoying of China on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Susi has lost only twice to Bang in 12 encounters. The
\nIndonesian last beat the Korean in the All-England final last
\nApril.<\/p>\n
\"The match was quite difficult for me,\" Susi said. \"Bang is
\nvery good on the attack, so I tried to give her more pressure.\"<\/p>\n
It was her seventh victory in seven international tournaments
\nthis year.<\/p>\n
Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, Vietnam's chief economic
\nadvisor and chairman of the national badminton federation,
\npresented Susi with her $8,500 prize.<\/p>\n
Khai's presence underscored the importance Vietnam attached to
\nthe World Cup, one of the biggest international sports events to
\nbe staged in the country since the war ended in 1975.<\/p>\n
Badminton is widely played in the streets and parks but
\nVietnam has yet to develop players of international standard.<\/p>\n
A total of $170,000 was at stake in the tournament, for which
\na Danish brewery with an operation in Ho Chi Minh City was the
\nmajor sponsor.<\/p>\n
Results<\/p>\n
Men's singles: Hariyanto Arbi (Ina) bt Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen (Den) (Stuer-
\nLauridsen withdrew injured with Hariyanto leading 9-7 in the
\nfirst game)
\n Women's singles: Susi Susanti (Ina) bt Bang Soo-hyun (SKo) 12-9, 11-6
\n Men's doubles: Cheah Soon Kit\/Soo Beng Kiang (Mal) bt Bambang Suprianto\/Rudy
\nGunawan (Ina) 18-13, 2-15, 18-17
\n Women's doubles: Lili Tampi\/Finarsih (Ina) bt Chung So-young\/Gil Young-ah (South
\nKorea) 15-11, 15-12
\n Mixed doubles: Thomas Lund (Den)\/Catrine Bengtsson (Swe) bt Chen Xing Dong\/Gu
\nJun (China) 10-15, 15-10, 15-2<\/p>\n
Indonesia Open -- Page 12<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesians-sweep-world-cup-badminton-championship-singles-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }