Joko conquers Ardy to win Grand Prix badminton finals<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (Agencies): Veteran Joko Suprianto conquered his
\naging legs and a fitter and younger defending champion Ardy
\nWiranata to win the men's singles title at the US$325,000 World
\nGrand Prix badminton finals here yesterday night.<\/p>\n
In an all-Indonesian final, Joko drew on his wealth of
\nexperience to emerge a 15-3, 6-15, 15-6 winner in a typically
\ngritty display at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.<\/p>\n
Joko's win gave Indonesia its second title at the season-
\nending tournament after Trikus Heryanto and Minarti Timur earned
\na comfortable 15-8, 15-8 victory over surprising finalists Simon
\nArcher and Julie Bradbury of England in the mixed doubles earlier
\non the day.<\/p>\n
Malaysia denied Indonesia its third title when Cheah Soon Kit
\nand Yap Kim Hock came from behind to upset veteran team of Rudy
\nGunawan and Bambang Suprianto in a nail biting three setter. It
\nwas the Malaysian pair's first title of the season.<\/p>\n
Indonesia won three titles last year through Hariyanto Arbi,
\nSusi Susanti and men's doubles team of Ricky Subagja and Rexy
\nMainaky. Injuries forced women's singles Susi and the world team
\nchampion skipped the year-end tournament.<\/p>\n
Joko, who at 29 is the oldest player in the men's top 10,
\nfound a timely second wind in the decider to down newly-wed Ardy,
\n25, for his second World Grand Prix finals crown.<\/p>\n
He won his first by beating another compatriot, Hariyanto, in
\nKuala Lumpur two years ago.<\/p>\n
Singapore is a happy hunting ground for the Indonesian
\nveteran, who won the 1993 SEA Games gold medal and the Konica Cup
\ntitle here earlier this year, and defeated Malaysia's Rashid
\nSidek in a seesaw semifinal on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Joko tallied his title to four this year, with two of them won
\nin a non-grand prix event. He was seeded second behind reigning
\nworld champion Hariyanto who was ousted by Sidek in their group
\nmatch.<\/p>\n
China's Ye Zhaoying also struggled to beat Lim Xiaoqing of
\nSweden to win the women's singles crown in badminton's richest
\ntournament.<\/p>\n
The 21-year-old Ye won 12-10, 8-11, 11-8 in a hard-fought
\nfinal to avenge her Konica Cup defeat to the Chinese-born Swede
\nat the same venue five months ago.<\/p>\n
The loss was a big disappointment to the 28-year-old Lim, who
\ncame into the tournament after winning the All-England, Danish,
\nChinese-Taipei, Thailand and Singapore titles and had been
\nhoping to round off the year in style.<\/p>\n
Ye pocketed $16,250 for the victory.<\/p>\n
China struck a second title through its women's doubles team
\nGe Fei and Go Jun, who beat arch rivals and world champions Gil
\nYoung-ah and Jang Hye-ock of South Korea 15-7, 15-12 in their
\nfourth successive final duel this year.<\/p>\n
Results<\/p>\n
Mixed doubles: Trikus Heryanto\/Minarti Timur (Ina) bt Simon
\nArcher\/Julie Bradbury (Eng) 15-8, 15-8<\/p>\n
Women's singles: Ye Zhaoying (Chn) bt Lim Xiaoqing (Swe) 12-10,
\n8-11, 11-8<\/p>\n
Men's singles: Joko Suprianto (Ina) bt Ardy Wiranata (Ina) 15-3,
\n6-15, 15-6<\/p>\n
Women's doubles: Ge Fei\/Go Jun (Chn) bt Gil Young-ah\/Jang Hye-ock
\n(Kor) 15-7, 15-12<\/p>\n
Men's doubles: Chean Soon Kit\/Yap Kim Hock (Mas) bt Rudy Gunawan\/
\nBambang Suprianto (Ina) 13-18, 15-2, 15-12<\/p>\n
Mia -- Page 11<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/joko-conquers-ardy-to-win-grand-prix-badminton-finals-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }