Flandy/Eng Hian in Danish Open final

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian men's badminton doubles team of Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian kept alive the country's hope of winning a title at the US$250,000 Danish Open at Farum Hallen in Copenhagen.

Flandy and Eng Hian stayed on course for the title by crushing defending champions Martin Lundgaard Hansen and Lars Paaske of Denmark 15-12, 15-5 in Saturday's semifinals.

The Indonesian pair reached the semis by ousting Quinten van Dalm and Dennis Lens of the Netherlands 15-5, 17-14 on Friday.

In the final, they will face the Danish duo of Jens Eriksen and Jesper Larsen, who defeated the Indonesian team of Sigit Budiarto and Halim Heryanto 15-7, 15-1 in their semifinal match.

Sigit and Halim went through to the semis after a tough match against the new partnership of Michael Sogaard of Denmark and Nathan Robertson of England, eventually winning 15-12, 15-13.

Indonesian men's singles Hendrawan and Johan Hadikusuma fell short of reaching the semis in their matches on Friday.

Hendrawan, the top seed and world number one, was upset by George Rimarcdi, an Indonesian who plays for Sweden, 9-15, 2-15.

The 28-year-old Hendrawan -- who has yet to recover physically after winning the silver medal at the Sydney Olympics last month -- showed some symptoms of typhoid during the competition. He has suffered a fever since his second round match against Chen Wei of China.

In Saturday's semis, George stopped the talented young Chinese player Xiao Hui, who beat defending champion Poul-Erik Hoyer- Larsen of Denmark in the second round, in a 15-9, 15-5 victory.

George will face second seed and world number four Peter Gade Christensen of Denmark in Sunday's final.

Gade Christensen, who hopes to keep the title in Denmark, reached the final with a tough 17-14, 15-11 victory over compatriot Anders Boesen. Boesen crushed Indonesian Johan Hadikusuma 17-14, 15-2 on Friday.

Host sweetheart and world number two Camilla Martin is one step away from the women's singles title after defeating world number five Gong Ruina of China, at the same time ending China's hope of an all-Chinese final.

Martin eked out a tough 11-8, 11-8 victory over Gong.

In the final on Sunday, Martin will meet Zhou Mi of China, who trashed compatriot Zhang Ning 11-4, 11-3 in their semifinal match.

The top seeded mixed doubles team of Michael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen of Denmark, who defeated the new Indonesian partnership of Nova Widianto and Vita Marissa 15-6, 15-7 in Friday's semifinals, grabbed the title with a 15-10, 8-15, 15-10 victory over Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager in an all-Danish final. (yan)