Candra/Sigit avenge loss in Anaheim

Candra/Sigit avenge loss in Anaheim

JAKARTA: World number one men's doubles pair Candra Wijaya and
Sigit Budiarto turned the tables on world champions Howard Bach
and Tony Gunawan of the United States on Saturday.

The Indonesians, who lost to Bach and Indonesian-born Tony in
three tight games in the worlds in Anaheim, California, in
August, came through 21-18, 21-9 in the semifinals of the
US$250,000 Saiqi World Invitational in Yiyang, China.

"It was our turn to win now," Candra, who formerly played with
Tony, was quoted as saying by Antara news service.

The tournament is using the new scoring system of 21 points in
the best-of-three games that will go into effect for all
badminton tournaments in February.

Candra and Sigit will get another chance to avenge a recent
defeat on Sunday, when they meet China's Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun,
who beat them in the final match of the round-robin earlier in
the week.

In the mixed doubles, Indonesian world champions Nova Widianto
and Lilyana Natsir reached the final by beating Danes Jens
Eriksen/Mette Schjoldager 21-16, 21-8.

They meet China's Xie Zhongbo/Zhang Yawen, who they defeated n
the world championship final but lost to in the round-robin this
week 16-21, 11-21. -- JP