Anton, Ismu capture Indocement Cup title

Anton, Ismu capture Indocement Cup title

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's best hope in the Olympic Games men's
doubles Anton Suseno and Ismu Harinto met expectations of winning
the fourth Indocement Cup table tennis open tournament in
Simpruk, South Jakarta, Sunday.

The duo easily defeated Hadi Yudo Prajitno and Asep A.S. from
Bandung-based NHI club 21-13, 21-16 at Sunday's final. Anton and
Ismu pocketed Rp 8 million (US$900) first prize while Hadi and
Asep bagged Rp 4 million.

David Yacobs and M. Zainuddin of host club Tiga Roda shared
the third place with Jelly Da Costa and Budiono of Bandung-based
Gani Artha club. Each earned Rp 1.5 million in prize money.

Ismu, also a member of Gani Artha club, completed his victory
by claiming the men's singles title by beating Hadi 21-23, 21-8,
19-21, 21-10, 21-18.

He won Rp 6 million while Hadi received Rp 3 million. Joint
second runners up David and Zainuddin earned Rp 1 million each.

Anton, playing for Bandung-based NHI club, did not play in the
singles event. Both Anton and Ismu were still playing in the team
event as of press time.

"Hadi Yudo is our practice partner but he and Asep have never
been able to overcome us. During the singles event, Hadi tried to
break my playing rhythm while saving his energy. He managed to
keep me busy but he was finally out of breath because of my
constant attack," Ismu said after the match.

Anton and Ismu will move their training from Kediri, Central
Java, to Jakarta as of Aug. 25 before flying to Sydney early
September.

Coach Adjat Sudradjat said he would likely invite national
players including Deddy Da Costa, M. Al Arkam, Ersan and Anton's
brother Yon Mardiono to be practice partners.

National women's player Rossy Pratiwi Dipoyanti of NHI had to
work hard to beat junior Santi, a member of the Surya club in
Kediri, 21-10, 15-21, 21-18, 20-22, 21-10.

But Rossy failed to repeat her victory in the women's doubles.
She and junior partner Rossy Nurida bowed out to Nuni Sugiani and
Siti Wakidah of Gani Artha 15-21, 20-22.

Wiworo of UMS '80 of Jakarta and Nuni shared the third place
of the singles event, while doubles pair of Wiworo and Lina also
finished third along with Ratna and Santi of Surya club. (ivy)