Marlev hoping to end title drought<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian old hand Marlev Mainaky cruised to
\nthe final stage of the US$170,000 Sanyo Indonesia Open on
\nSaturday after upsetting second seed and heavy favorite Pullela
\nGopichand of India 7-2, 8-6, 7-1 in their semifinals bout at Bung
\nKarno Indoor Stadium.<\/p>\n
It is Marlev's first final since reaching the 1999 World Grand
\nPrix Finals before losing to eventual winner Peter Gade
\nChristensen of Denmark 15-11, 15-13.<\/p>\n
Playing differently from his usual defensive style, Marlev
\ninitiated the match with offensive strokes forcing the All
\nEngland champion to rely on long rallies.<\/p>\n
\"I had to take the initiative because the new scoring system
\nenables shuttlers to attack more without becoming exhausted too
\nearly,\" he told a post-match conference.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, Gopichand underperformed. In the second game he sent
\noverhead shots to the baseline earning him more points.\"<\/p>\n
Gopichand said he found difficulties in developing his form as
\nMarlev unexpectedly played an offensive game.<\/p>\n
\"I had to send long lobs otherwise Marlev would reply with
\nhard smashes. But my strategy didn't work well. Reaching the
\nsemifinals, however, is quite good considering my preparation,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"There were only three or four days of preparation before last
\nweek's Malaysian Open due to my right ankle injury. And then I
\ncame here.\"<\/p>\n
Gopichand's defeat was not the only surprise of the day as top
\nseed Lee Hyun-il of South Korea was gunned down by Swiss Open
\nfinalist Lee Tsuen Seng of Malaysia 5-7, 5-7, 4-7.<\/p>\n
\"I wanted to win the match fast but instead failed to play my
\nusual game. I made too many unforced errors. In most games I take
\nthe lead early but was then shocked when Tsuen Seng managed to
\ntrail me. It really made me feel down,\" Lee said through his
\ncoach, Sung Han-kook.<\/p>\n
The Malaysian said he had a good feeling though was a little
\ndeterred by the Korean's position as first seed.<\/p>\n
\"I was a little bit discouraged by him but I just played my
\nbest game. I had no pressure at all, unlike Hyun-il who was
\nexpected to reach the finals,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, it is my second finals so it could not have been
\nbetter. I will just play relaxed in the final.\"<\/p>\n
Women's singles Ellen Angelina, who quit the Indonesian
\nBadminton Center earlier this year, surprisingly defeated second
\nseed Lidya Djaelawidjaja 7-4, 7-3, 8-6.<\/p>\n
\"I have never won a match against Lidya but I have found out
\nwhy. She plays fast while I play slowly. I just stopped myself
\nfrom being carried away by her style,\" Ellen said.<\/p>\n
\"It worked well in the first two games, though I drifted away
\na bit in the third. But I managed to return to my strategy.\"<\/p>\n
Ellen will challenge top seed Wang Chen of Hong Kong who
\ndefeated Cindana Hartono in her comeback track 5-7, 7-3, 7-1, 7-
\n2.<\/p>\n
\"I played hurriedly in the first game because I wanted to win
\nquickly but it didn't work out so I lost. Actually, it was only a
\nroutine match for me,\" said Wang through an interpreter.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has secured two doubles titles in the men's and
\nmixed doubles.<\/p>\n
Men's doubles world champions Tony Gunawan and Halim Heryanto
\nwill meet compatriots and second seeds Candra Wijaya and Sigit
\nBudiarto, who recently took the Malaysian Open title.<\/p>\n
Tony and Halim easily defeated another Indonesian pair Davis
\nEfraim and Karel Mainaky 7-4, 7-4, 7-3 while Candra and Sigit
\ncrushed the combined forces of Indonesian Reony Mainaky and
\nJapanese Masafumi Hanada 7-3, 7-4, 8-6.<\/p>\n
In the mixed doubles, Tri Kusheryanto and Emma Ermawati will
\nchallenge second-seeded compatriots Nova Widhianto and Vita
\nMarissa.<\/p>\n
Tri and Emma beat fifth seeds Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms
\nfrom England 7-8, 7-1, 7-0, 7-2 while Nova and Vita defeated
\nfourth seeds Frederik Bergstrom and Jenny Karlsson of Sweden 8-7,
\n8-7, 7-3.<\/p>\n
Indonesia failed to ensure an all-Indonesian final in the
\nwomen's doubles when Danish eighth seeds Ann Lou Jorgensen and
\nJane Bramsen defeated Indonesian pair Emma Ermawati and Enny
\nWidiowati 7-3, 7-2, 7-2.<\/p>\n
The Danes will face hosts Deyana Lomban and Vita Marissa who
\nhad to work hard before defeating their juniors sixth seeds Eny
\nErlangga and Novita 7-5, 5-7, 5-7, 7-3, 7-3. (nvn)<\/p>",
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