RI targets three titles in HK Open<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
National players are expected to capture the men's singles,
\nmen's doubles and mixed doubles crowns at next week's US$250,000
\nHong Kong Badminton Championship, although they may meet familiar
\nfoes in latter rounds.<\/p>\n
In the men's singles, national number one and fifth seeded
\nTaufik Hidayat is drawn to meet top seed Lin Dan of China in the
\nsemifinals. Taufik's 3-2 head-to-head record against the world
\nnumber one includes two victories this year and one loss, but one
\nof the wins came in the World Championships final in Anaheim in
\nAugust.<\/p>\n
The Chinese player may face another Indonesian, Simon Santoso,
\nor seventh seed Peter Gade of Denmark in the last eight of the
\nsix-star tournament.<\/p>\n
In men's doubles, top seeded veteran Candra Wijaya\/Sigit
\nBudiarto have a possible semifinal matchup against Fu Haifeng\/Cai
\nYun, the fourth seeds from China, who beat them in the Sudirman
\nCup this year.<\/p>\n
In the mixed doubles, world champions Nova Widianto\/Lilyana
\nNatsir are likely to meet the English pair of Nathan Robertson
\nand Gail Emms, the fifth seeds, in the quarterfinals and the
\nChinese third seeds Zhang Jun and Gao Ling in the semifinals.<\/p>\n
Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) national training
\nsubdivision head Lius Pongoh said on Monday the three-title
\ntarget for the Oct. 31-Nov. 6 tournament was feasible.<\/p>\n
\"While Taufik will not face serious opponents in the early
\nstages of the Hong Kong Open, Simon and Sony Dwi Kuncoro won't be
\nas lucky.\"<\/p>\n
Simon is expected to meet 2005 Indonesia Open winner Lee Hyun
\nIll of Korea in the second round, with Gade and Lin probable
\nopponents in the next rounds.<\/p>\n
\"It will be hard for Simon, but he might give us a surprise,\"
\nhe said of the 20 year old, who upset Taufik at the Indonesia
\nOpen in September.<\/p>\n
Sony, seeded 14th but who is still trying to recapture the
\nform he displayed before foot surgery last year, is drawn to meet
\nsecond seed Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n
\"His (Sony) problem is now to find his own rhythm because his
\npower, speed and skills are the same as before the surgery ...,\"
\nLius said.<\/p>\n
The recent mediocre results of men's doubles pair Luluk
\nHadiyanto and Alvent Yulianto, the third seeds in Hong Kong, are
\nconcern for the association.<\/p>\n
\"Luluk\/Alvent have yet to win a title this year and their
\nperformance has declined. I hope the Hong Kong Open will not be a
\nheavy burden for them,\" he said of the pair, ranked second in
\n2004.<\/p>\n
Markis Kidho and Hendra Setiawan, the seventh seeds who beat
\nCandra and Sigit for the Indonesia Open title, are drawn to meet
\nveteran compatriots Flandy Limpele\/Eng Hian in the second round
\nand second seeds Jen Eriksen\/Martin Hansen Lundgaard of Denmark
\nin the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n
\"In mixed doubles, of course we have a great chance to win a
\ntitle from world champions Nova\/Lilyana,\" Lius said.<\/p>",
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