Olympic qualifiers exit Jakarta Open<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Daniel Shirley and Sara Runesten-Petersen, who will represent
\nNew Zealand in the badminton competition at the Olympic Games,
\nlost to Unang and Angeline of Indonesia in the quarterfinal mixed
\ndoubles match at the Jakarta Open here on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Kiwi pair won the first game at 15-12 but seemingly lost
\ntheir focus in the rest of the game with error-prone play on the
\nnet.<\/p>\n
They were beaten 14-17, 7-15 in the remaining two games.<\/p>\n
\"It was very disappointing because we won the first game and
\nwe were already leading by a match point in the second game but
\nwe lost the game,\" Petersen said.<\/p>\n
\"I got tired, I wasn't moving much during the game, we did not
\nplay positive and we lost our confidence. It's a different
\ncondition (playing here) and the players have a different style,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
Shirley and Petersen said that their participation at the
\nJakarta Open was part of their preparation for the 2004 Malaysia
\nOpen to be held in Kuantan, Pahang starting on June 29.<\/p>\n
\"It's annoying that we lost just before the Malaysian Open but
\nI think it's a good chance for us to learn more from our
\nexperience,\" Petersen said.<\/p>\n
New Zealand was one of four foreign countries taking part in
\nthe Rp 30 million tournament, which featured around 1,000
\nplayers. The other three are Malaysia, Singapore and Switzerland.<\/p>\n
The tournament, which has four age categories, enters the
\nsemifinals and finals on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Indonesian star Taufik Hidayat is to play against
\nLok Chong Chieh of Malaysia while Sony Dwi Kuncoro will have to wait
\nfor a qualifier in the opening matches of the Malaysian Open,
\nwhich begins June 29 in Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
In the doubles, Sigit Budiarto and Tri Kusharjanto will be
\nchallenged by Sudket Prapakamol and Patapol Ngernrisuk of
\nThailand.<\/p>\n
Flandy Limpele and Candra Wijaya will team up to face a tough
\nmatch against Malaysian pair Choong Tan Fuk and Lee Wan Wah. Eng
\nHian, Flandy's regular partner decided to skip the tournament.<\/p>\n
The other Indonesian pair Luluk Hadiyanto and Alvent Yulianto
\nwill play against Gan Taik Chai and Koo Kien Keat of Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is fielding 17 players in five events in the
\nMalaysian Open, which will be their last warmup tournament before
\nthe Olympic Games in Athens in August.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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