Anton, Ismu unchallenged in Indocement Cup tourney

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Olympic Games qualifiers Anton Suseno and Ismu Harinto scored an easy 2-0 win over the duo of Richard Rumambi and Eddy Sugiarto in second-round action at the fourth Indocement Cup table tennis tournament on Friday.

Anton and Ismu barely broke a sweat as they claimed the first set 21-9. Richard and Eddy, from the Kuda Laut club in Jakarta, struggled back and managed to take a lead in the second set, but they seemed to run out of steam on 16 points.

Using their international experience, Anton and Ismu took advantage and won the second set 21-16.

"It's a good start for us, the Kuda Laut players are not bad," Ismu said after the match.

Anton and Ismu, who are training for the Sydney Olympics in September, will meet Sugi and Gianto of the Cipta Raya club in the third round on Saturday evening.

Sugi and Gianto also had an easy go of it in the second round, with Yudistira and Hanafi of the Sky Net club failing to show up for the second-round match.

Ismu was still competing in the singles event as of press time, while Anton, who has qualified for the Olympics men's singles event, is only taking part in the doubles event in the tournament.

The women's singles and doubles event will begin on Saturday.

In the men's team event, sixteen teams, including the favorites Surya B and Surya C, cruised into the fourth round.

On Saturday, Surya C will face Tiga Roda A, which finished third at this tournament in 1997, while Surya B will play Bina Prestasi. The absence of 1997 champion Surya A is expected to open up the race for the team title.

Pupuk Kaltim (PKT) A will play Tiga Roda C, while PKT B failed to advance to the fourth round. PKT was the runner-up in 1997. (ivy)