Top seed shuttlers crash on first day of GP Finals<\/p>\n
By Primastuti Handayani<\/p>\n
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Top seeds Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen of
\nDenmark and China's Dong Jiong surprisingly crashed against
\nlittle-known opponents on the opening day of the round-robin
\nmatches in the Lipton World Grand Prix Badminton Finals here
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Rising Indonesian star Indra Wijaya stole a bit of the thunder
\nwhen he gunned down China's number one Dong 15-12 15-5 in a match
\nspoiled by a leaking roof during a thunder storm outside the
\nJuana Mandala Stadium.<\/p>\n
The leak took its toll on defending champion and Indonesia's
\ntop player, Joko Suprianto, who injured his right thigh when he
\nstepped on a wet patch in the deciding set against Chen Gang.<\/p>\n
Joko lost 11-15 in the first set but fought back and
\ncame-from-behind to win the second set 17-14. He finished the
\ndelayed third set 15-9. Heavy rain then forced the organizers to
\nhalt proceedings for two hours.<\/p>\n
Joko told The Jakarta Post after the match that if the injury
\nhas not healed by today he would withdraw from the tournament.<\/p>\n
Olympic gold medalist Hoyer-Larsen lost to Chinese Hu Zhilan
\n13-15, 15-12, 15-18.<\/p>\n
From the onset Hoyer-Larsen failed to perform his usual
\nmesmerizing technical skills against Hu in the US$350,000 annual
\nevent. He often lost control of the shuttle and made many
\nunforced errors. Hu, on the other hand, was able to control the
\nshuttle throughout.<\/p>\n
\"I know that I didn't play well today but I'll try my best
\ntomorrow to achieve a better result,\" Hoyer-Larsen said.<\/p>\n
In the second set, the 31-year-old Dane fought from behind to
\nwin the set 15-12. But he failed to capitalize on his chances in
\nthe deciding set and lost it 15-18.<\/p>\n
Strong wind<\/p>\n
But Hoyer-Larsen said the strong wind in the stadium was not
\nthe reason for his loss.<\/p>\n
\"Everybody has to deal with the wind,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old Dane's next opponent is rookie Budi Santoso of
\nIndonesia, finalist in the 1996 Indonesia Open.<\/p>\n
Hu said: \"I won today because Poul-Erik played bad. I know
\nthat he rarely practiced after the Olympics. I'm not very proud
\nwith it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hu is to meet Alan Budikusuma, the 1992 Olympic gold
\nmedalist, today.<\/p>\n
\"Alan is a favorite player at home, it'll be hard to beat him.
\nBut I've never played against Budi, so my chance will be 50-50,\"
\nhe commented.<\/p>\n
Dong said that his performance was not very good because it
\nwas his first match.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, the Indonesian shuttler played very well and he was
\nvery strong,\" Dong said.<\/p>\n
Indra said that he was very surprised that he won the match so
\neasily.<\/p>\n
\"Dong's performance was not very good and I put him under
\npressure as told to by coaches Triaji and Tong Sin Fu,\" said the
\n23-year-old player.<\/p>\n
Indra complained that the wind gave him trouble in controlling
\nthe shuttle.<\/p>\n
Selected results:
\nMen's singles:
\n Dong Jiong (Chn) v Indra Wijaya (Ina) 12-15, 5-15
\n Alan Budikusuma (Ina) v Budi Santoso (Ina) 6-15, 15-7, 15-10
\n Poul-Erik H-Larsen (Den) v Hu Zhilan (Chn) 13-15, 15-12, 15-18
\n Rashid Sidek (Mas) v Soren B Nielsen (Den) 15-10, 15-1
\n Ong Ewe Hock (Mas) v T Stuer-Lauridsen (Den) 12-15, 15-11, 15-4
\n Joko Suprianto (Ina) bt Chen Gang (Chn) 11-15 17-14 15-9<\/p>\n
Women's singles:
\n Mia Audina (Ina) v Christina Gandrup (Swe) 11-3, 11-1
\n Ye Zhaoying (Chn) v Yao Yan (Chn) 11-7, 11-1
\n Wang Chen (Chn) v Lidya Djaelawidjaya (Ina) 11-1, 13-11<\/p>\n
Men's doubles:
\n Cheah Soon Kit\/Yap Kim Hock (Mas) v Peter Axelsson\/Par-Gunnar
\n Jonsson 15-12, 6-15, 15-5<\/p>\n
Women's doubles:
\n Eliza\/Zelin Rosiana (Ina) v Helene Kirkegaard\/Rikke Olsen (Den)
\n 15-12, 15-6
\n Ge Fei\/Gu Jun (Chn) v Nicola Beck\/Joanne Davies (Gbr) 15-4, 15-0<\/p>\n
Mixed doubles:
\n Flandy Limpele\/Risyeu Rosalina (Ina) v Nick Ponting\/Joanne Goode
\n (Gbr) 10-15, 8-15<\/p>",
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