Arbi survives heat to lead RI charge

Arbi survives heat to lead RI charge

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): World champion Heryanto Arbi sweated his way to a 15-6 12-15 18-17 victory over South Korea's Lee Kwang-jin on Friday in quarter-final action at the star-studded Malaysian Open badminton championships.

Ardy Wiranata and Olympic champion Alan Budi Kusuma also won as the talented Indonesian men booked three of the four slots in Saturday's semifinals.

Heryanto needed 71 minutes to overcome the stubborn Korean and now faces Kusuma for a place in the final. Ardy takes on second- seeded South Korean Park Sung-woo in the other semifinal.

Heryanto again complained of the heat at the indoor stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

"I've had two tough matches now and it's going to be difficult to beat Allan," said Heryanto who just survived a three-set victory against Malaysia's talented Ong Ewe Hock on Thursday night.

"My leg muscles feel sore and unless I recover fully, I don't think I have a chance of beating Allan," he added.

Alan beat Heryanto the last time they played, in the semifinals of the World Grand Prix in Bangkok last year.

Alan said: "I think Heryanto must be feeling tired now. He's the better player, but fitness will count."

In the women's event, defending champion, Susi Susanti of Indonesia, steamrollered South Korea's Ra Kyung-min 11-4 11-2.

"I'm playing well, but the tournament is not over. It's going to get more difficult and I will face my true test against Lim Xiaoqing," Susi said.

Sweden's Xiaoqing, the reigning All-England champion, takes on Olympic champion Susanti in one semifinal, while the other is between world champion Ye Zhaoying of China and top seed Bang Soo-hyun of South Korea.