China sweeps World Junior c'ships title

China sweeps World Junior c'ships title

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian junior badminton team went away
empty-handed after their sole survivor in the boys' singles, Sony
Dwi Kuncoro, surrendered to Chinese Bao Chunlai 1-7, 5-7, 7-1, 5-
7 at the World Junior Badminton Championships for the Bimantara
Cup.

With Bao's victory, China completed a clean sweep to grab the
title before the home crowd at Guangzhou, China.

Another event saw Wei Yan beat Wang Rong 3-0 to win the girls'
singles title, while girls' duo Zhang Yawen and Wei Yili
outclassed Li Yujia and Zhao Tingting 3-1 to win the girl's
doubles title.

Duo Sang Yang and Zheng Bo outclassed compatriot Xie Zhongbo
and Chao Chen 3-1 in the boy's doubles event. Sang and Zhang won
the mixed doubles title after they overcame Zheng and Wei 3-0.

Indonesian team manager Yacob Rusdianto said the overall
results had met the target set by the Badminton Association of
Indonesia (PBSI).

"All shuttlers have reached PBSI's target, which includes the
finalist in the boy's singles event and semifinalists in the
boy's doubles and the mixed doubles. Our shuttlers also finished
in the top four in the team event," he said.

Reviewing Sony's performance, Yacob said Sony had difficulties
in countering Bao, who is a lefthanded player.

"In the first two sets, Sony could not free himself from Bao's
pressure and failed to return the shuttlecock to Bao's court.
Sony showed a good sign of rebound in the third set. In the last
set, Sony managed to lead 4-0 but Bao was able to catch up with
him and ended the match 7-5," he said.

In Ipoh, Malaysia, Indonesian Budi Santoso won the 2000 Ipoh
Masters title here on Sunday after he outclassed home favorite
Roslin Hashim 15-7, 15-5.

Another Malaysian, Wong Choong Hann, had to lose one set
before he claimed third place. He beat Pulella Gopichand of India
17-16, 7-15, 15-11.

Malaysian pair Lee Wan Wah and Choong Tan Fook took sweet
revenge over Indonesian new pair Tony Gunawan and Rexy Mainaky
15-8, 15-9 to claim the men's doubles title. Tony and Rexy
crushed Lee and Choong for the Asian badminton championships
title in Jakarta last week.

Indonesian Candra Wijaya and Eng Hian won the third place
after beating Jens Eriksen and Jesper Larsen from Denmark 15-11,
15-13. (ivy)