Marlev, Tony\/Halim reach Korean Open quarterfinals<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Most of the Indonesian badminton players here
\nwere reduced to being spectators after bowing out in the
\nUS$250,000 Samsung Korea Open third round at the Hanra Gymnasium
\non Cheju Island, South Korea.<\/p>\n
Only men's singles old hand Marlev Mainaky, sixth seed here,
\nand unseeded men's doubles Tony Gunawan and Halim Heryanto
\nsurvived the tests.<\/p>\n
Marlev set up a quarterfinals encounter with 2000 All England
\nwinner Xia Xuanze of China after crushing Rasmus Wengberg of
\nSweden 15-8, 15-4 Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"I played very well today and I was in a very good mood. I
\nmanaged to dominate Rasmus who made so many unforced errors.
\nBesides, he was not very patient in dealing with my game,\" Marlev
\ntold The Jakarta Post in a telephone interview.<\/p>\n
\"About tomorrow's match, I realize that it will be harder to
\nfight Xia as he is younger, faster and stronger than I am.
\nBesides, it's going to be our first meeting. I have to play more
\naggressively and attack him first. His defense is also perfect.
\nLet's just wait and see how I can handle him tomorrow. What
\nmatters to me is both my legs are really tired,\" he said with a
\nlaugh.<\/p>\n
Tony told the Post that he was lucky to have competed in the
\nCopenhagen Masters at the end of December which served as a warm
\nup for reuniting with Halim Heryanto.<\/p>\n
\"By competing in Copenhagen we had a chance to adjust to each
\nother as sometimes in critical points I forget I have Halim
\ninstead of Candra (Wijaya) as my partner.\"<\/p>\n
Tony and Halim defeated Simon Archer and Nathan Robertson but
\nTony failed to recall the score. The Indonesians will go on to
\nchallenge second seeds Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong-sung.<\/p>\n
\" Halim and I have never met them but we will play our best.\"<\/p>\n
Top seeds Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian crashed out to Michael
\nLamp and Jonas Rasmussen 15-13, 13-15, 15-27.<\/p>\n
\"We blacked out on the court. We couldn't think and we were
\nvery slow. I never thought that I would lose to the Danish pair
\nas they are not very special. We made too many unforced errors,\"
\nEng Hian said, adding that he would not blame his defeat on lack
\nof preparation.<\/p>\n
\"Our defeat here warned Flandy and myself to prepare ourselves
\nbetter especially in facing into the All England, Swiss Open and
\nWorld Grand Prix Finals.\"<\/p>\n
Seventh seeds Candra and Sigit Budiarto, who have been under
\nthe spotlight since their reunion at the event, were unexpectedly
\nupset by Michael Sogaard and Jim Laugesen of Denmark 12-15, 12-
\n15.<\/p>\n
\"I never even thought of losing so soon, especially to the
\nDanish pair. We had a lack of preparation and it's our first
\ntournament together after the Thomas Cup in May.\"<\/p>\n
\"The Danish pair played really well and fast today. They have
\nchanged a lot and they are getting much better now.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesian shuttlers in the women's singles, women's doubles
\nand mixed doubles also crashed out at the event. (yan)<\/p>",
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