Budi and George reach Danish Open third round

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Budi Santoso, world ranked 32, reached the third round of the US$250,000 Danish Open at Farum Arena in Copenhagen Wednesday after easily overcoming Tjitte Weistra of the Netherlands 15-4, 15-4 on Wednesday.

Budi had survived earlier his first test against Kasper Fangel of Denmark 7-15, 15-6, 15-8.

Sweden-based George Rimarcdi also reached the third round after a comfortable victory over Oliver Pongrats 15-4, 15-7.

Other Indonesian men's singles players were still competing in the second round at press time except Hariyanto Arbi and Yudi Suprayogi.

The former world champion Hariyanto, nicknamed Hari, crashed in the first round of three consecutive tournaments, the German Open, Dutch Open and Danish Open.

Hari, whose ranking dropped to 100, had to bow out to Japanese Yamada Hidetaka 15-10, 15-9.

While Yudi had to bow out to Chinese newcomer Cai Yun 12-15, 3-15 in the second round.

Teammate Hendrawan, Indonesian top seed and Olympics silver medalist, survived his first test against shuttler Niels Kaldau of the host country, 15-12, 15-9.

The Indonesian will face Par-Henrik Croona of Sweden, who beat Jim Ronny Andersen of Norway 15-10, 15-5 later Wednesday afternoon.

Johan Hadikusuma, younger brother of the 1992 Olympics gold medalist Alan Budikusuma, also cruised to the second round after a comfortable win over Kasper Nielsen of Denmark 15-4, 15-7. Johan will challenge fourth seed Pulella Gophicand of India who crushed another Dane, Bo Rafn 15-7, 15-8.

Defending champion Poul-Erick Hoyer-Larsen, who is retiring after the tournament, managed to overcome Yangchun Xie of Germany 17-14, 15-13.

Another home favorite, Peter Gade Christensen, easily defeated Andreas Hansen of Sweden 15-4, 15-3.

In the men's doubles, Dutch Open winners Sigit Budiarto and Halim Heryanto clinched a place in the second round thanks to a walkover win from Danish pairs Michael Sogaard and Jim Laugesen.

In the women's singles, Danish sweetheart and defending champion Camilla Martin, who is fresh from winning the Olympics silver medal, will likely have less challenge as tough rival Mia Audina, an Indonesian-born playing for the Netherlands, withdrew as she is still recovering from her injuries. (nvn)