RI shuttlers secure semifinals berth at Asia Cup<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia secured on Thursday a semifinal berth
\nafter eliminating Thailand in the round-robin Group B match of
\nthe US$100,000 JVC Asia Cup in Ho Chi Minh City. China, South
\nKorea and Malaysia also cruised into the semifinals.<\/p>\n
Taufik Hidayat, badminton's world number three player,
\ndefeated Boonsak Polsana 15-6, 17-14.<\/p>\n
In a statement, team manager Leo Chandra Wiranata said Taufik
\nwon easily in the first game but made unforced errors in the
\nsecond game as he rushed to conclude the match.<\/p>\n
\"Polsana is a tough player and he controlled the second game
\nto lead 11-4 before Taufik managed to narrow the gap 9-11. Taufik
\nmanaged to equal the scores at 11-11 before both players forced
\nfor a deuce. After three service overs, Taufik ended Polsana's
\nfight to win 17-14.\"<\/p>\n
World number two doubles players Candra Wijaya and Tony
\nGunawan beat the 1999 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalists
\nPramote Teerawiwatana and Tesana Pansisavas 15-11, 15-4.<\/p>\n
Tony and Candra were down 1-4 before they took over the ball
\nto lead 11-4. At one stage the Thais were trailing the All
\nEngland champions 9-11. But the Indonesians were too powerful and
\nended the first game 15-11.<\/p>\n
Pramote and Tesana did not fight as hard in the second game,
\ngiving an easy win of 15-4 to Candra and Tony.<\/p>\n
Second singles player Hendrawan worked hard to defeat Anupap
\nThiraratsakul 15-12, 15-11.<\/p>\n
\"Hendrawan has yet to show his best performance during the
\nAsia Cup. His opponent, who is one level below him, fought really
\nhard, but Hendrawan, who is more experienced, managed to overcome
\nthe pressure at critical points,\" Leo said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia was scheduled to face Malaysia on Friday evening.<\/p>\n
Malaysia also reached the semifinals after beating Chinese
\nTaipei 2-1.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's first singles player Jason Wong unexpectedly lost
\nto Liu Eng Horng 7-15, 15-7, 15-7. But the Malaysian pair of
\nRosman Razak and Chew Chun Eng equaled 1-1 after beating Hung
\nShin-Chung and Chien Yu-Hean 15-6, 15-6. In the decider, Ismail
\nSaman defeated Chang Ten-Shyong 15-6, 15-13.<\/p>\n
Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) training director
\nChristian Hadinata said on Friday that Hendrawan must defeat
\nIsmail.<\/p>\n
\"Hendrawan is not allowed to lose to Ismail, who is a very
\ntough player. He always chases the ball all over the court,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In Group A, top seeded China crushed India 3-0.<\/p>\n
World number one Sun Jun had to work hard to overcome Abhin
\nShyam Gupta 15-8, 6-15, 15-5. Doubles Yu Jin Hao and Zhang Jun
\neliminated Jaseel Ismail and Markose 15-11, 6-15, 15-13. Cheng
\nHong also played a tough match to win over Ajit Wijetilek 15-5,
\n10-15, 15-12.<\/p>\n
South Korea had an easy win over host Vietnam 3-0.<\/p>\n
Korean first singles player Park Tae-sang beat Nguyen Phu
\nCuong 15-6, 15-3, while world number one doubles Kim Dong-moon
\nand Ha Tae-kwon defeated Nguyen Phu Cuong and Tran Due Sang 15-7,
\n15-7. Second singles player Ahn Jae-chang won over Ho Van Loi 15-
\n1, 15-7. (yan)<\/p>",
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