Ricky\/Rexy cruise to Korea Open men's double final<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian veterans men's double pair Ricky
\nAhmad Subagja and Rexy Mainaky seemed to revive their glory days
\nby cruising to the final of the 2000 Samsung Korea Open at Hanra
\ngymnasium in Cheju Island, South Korea.<\/p>\n
Looking forward to performing in the 2000 Olympic Games in
\nSydney in September, the 1996 gold medalists outclassed their
\njunior countrymen Flandi Limpele and Eng Hian 15-13, 15-8 at the
\nsemifinal on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Ricky and Rexy, currently rank 11th in the world, will
\nchallenge host pair Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong-sung, who went to
\nthe final match after overwhelming another Indonesian hope,
\nCandra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan, 7-15, 15-8, 14-17.<\/p>\n
However, Indonesian veteran mixed double pair Tri Kusharyanto
\nand Minarti Timur disappointed badminton fans following their 13-
\n15, 3-15 loss over world runner-ups, Koreans Kim Dong-moon and Ra
\nKyung-min, in Saturday's final.<\/p>\n
Team manager and men's double coach Herry Imam Pierngadi told
\nThe Jakarta Post that Ricky and Rexy were expected to win the
\nmen's double event at the final of the US$250,000 six-star event
\non Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"They can win the match as long as they can maintain their
\nform and apply the same strategy as when they fought Ha Tae-kwon
\nand Kim Dong-moon. They are motivated to win the match, and they
\ncan do it regardless of the non-technical factor,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Herry was referring to the second round match on Thursday,
\nwhen Ricky\/Rexy overcame the world no. 1 team, Koreans Ha and
\nKim.<\/p>\n
He said that Ricky and Rexy could benefit from their
\nexperiences but were down on physical endurance.<\/p>\n
\"Ricky and Rexy are more seasoned than the South Korean pair.
\nBut they might not be as strong as Lee and Yoo, who are younger,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He also regretted Candra's and Tony's loss. \"We could have
\ncreated an all-Indonesian final if Candra and Tony had won the
\nmatch,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that Candra and Tony, who are the world's runner-ups,
\nhad skills equal to the South Korean pair.<\/p>\n
\"But the host shuttlers are fortunate because we play in their
\ncountry. Candra and Tony can win if they play in a neutral venue.
\nThey had won two out of three matches in their previous meets,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He also complained of biased officiating by the Koreans.<\/p>\n
\"The Indonesian pair's services were often called faults,
\nwhile the South Koreans' hardly ever were. In the double match,
\nservice is very important,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Commenting on Tri and Minarti's match, Hery said that they
\nwere outclassed by the South Korean pair.<\/p>\n
\"In the first set, Tri and Minarti could match the South
\nKoreans. But Ra's striking power was better than Minarti while
\nTri can measure up with Kim. By the end of the set, Minarti often
\nlobbed the ball which made it easier for the Koreans to hit
\nback,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Danish top women's shuttler Camilla Martin won the women's
\nsingle's title after defeating Yasuko Mizui of Japan in the final
\non Saturday.<\/p>\n
Martin's off-court partner, Peter Gade-Christensen, will play
\nsenior Malaysian shuttler Rashid Sidek in Sunday's men's singles
\nfinal. In the semifinal Saturday, Gade-Christensen beat Luo Yi-
\ngang of China, and Rashid overpowered teammate Saman Ismail.(ivy)<\/p>",
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