Antonius, Denny reach China Open semifinals

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian men's doubles shuttlers Antonius Budi Irianto and Denny Kantono became on Thursday the only Indonesians remaining in the US$150,000 China Open semifinals after other players made their exits in earlier rounds.

Fourth seeded Antonius and Denny, who are ranked seventh in the world, eliminated on Thursday fifth seeded duo Yu Jinhao and Chen Qiqiu of China 15-10, 15-6 in the quarterfinals. The Indonesians defeated on Wednesday Jiang Shan and Yan Kai of China 15-4, 11-15, 15-11.

Antonius and Denny will challenge world champions Kim Dong- moon and Ha Tae-kwon of South Korea. Kim and Ha, top seeded here and world number one, crushed Danish Open champions Martin Lundgaard Hansen and Lars Paaske of Denmark 15-3, 15-3.

The new partnership of Halim Heryanto and Sigit Budiarto bowed out of the tournament to second seeded Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong- sung of South Korea 15-17, 5-15.

Halim and Sigit earlier defeated eighth seeded Michael Sogaard and Jim Laugesen of Denmark 15-9, 15-7. The win was important for the newcomers, especially for Sigit, who has only recently ended his one-year suspension for using nandrolone.

Lee and Yoo will face the British pair Simon Archer and Nathan Robertson, who upset third seeded Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah of Malaysia 17-16, 15-8.

In the men's singles, second seeded Fung Permadi, an Indonesian playing for China Taipei, reached the semis after defeating China's Chen Gang 13-15, 15-0, 15-0. Fung will face Xiao Hui of China, who beat compatriot Luo Yigang 15-11, 15-12.

In another all-Chinese semifinals, Dong Jiong will face junior Xia Xuanze. Dong defeated Peter Rasmussen of Denmark 17-15, 15-7, while Xia overcame teammate Ji Xinpeng 15-9, 16-17, 15-13.

Xinhua reported China secured a title in the women's singles after its shuttlers secured an all-Chinese quarterfinals. Top seeded Dai Yun had was defeated by sixth seeded Zhou Mi 7-11, 8- 11. Zhou will challenge fifth seeded Gong Zhichao, who beat Wei Yan 11-6, 11-2.

In another semifinal, fourth seeded Ye Zhaoying, who defeated Wu Huimin 11-3, 11-9, will meet second seeded Gong Ruina, who defeated Tang Chunyu 11-0, 11-9. (yan)