China poses early tests to Indonesia
China poses early tests to Indonesia
JAKARTA (JP): Young Chinese players will give Indonesian men's singles top seeds early tests when they clash in the first round of the China Open badminton championships in Chengdu today.
Indonesian top seed Joko Suprianto plays Lin Liwen, second seed Alan Budikusuma faces Xie Yangchun and third seed Ardy Wiranata takes on Yang Zhuo.
Joko, ranked second in the world, is poised to continue his winning streak after his triumph in the World Cup in September and in the German Open last month.
Former world champion Joko is expected to meet China's Sudirman Cup hero Sun Jun or Malaysia's number one Rashid Sidek in Friday's quarterfinals.
Alan took only a three-day rest after the Hong Kong Open before making his title defense attempt in China. Alan lost to world champion and compatriot Heriyanto Arbi in Hong Kong's final on Sunday.
In the women's singles, top seed Susi Susanti will start her campaign against a qualifier today. Susi is seeking revenge for her three successive defeats to her Chinese arch-rival Ye Zhaoying.
Susi and Ye, however, look to face a daunting challenge on their way to a rematch. Susi has to overcome another big nemesis, Bang Soo-hyun of South Korea in the semifinals. Second seed Ye is expected to set up a semifinal replay against Indonesian teenager Mia Audina, her conqueror in the Hong Kong Open semifinals last week.
Mia, who fell in the final hurdle to Bang in Hong Kong, will play a warm-up match against a qualifier in the opening round.
Indonesia is fielding a second string team of Tony Gunawan and Rudy Wijaya in the men's doubles. Tony and Rudy are one of three pairs who beat world number one Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky, also from Indonesia.
Meanwhile, the International Badminton Federation released on Monday the latest world grand prix rankings which saw Bang leapfrog Susi. Bang now lies second behind leader Lim Xiaoqing of Sweden, following her triumph in Hong Kong.
The men's singles list kept Heriyanto on top, thanks to his Sunday victory. Hermawan Susanto is second, followed by All- England champion Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen of Denmark. (amd)