Hariyanto Arbi wins Hong Kong Open
Hariyanto Arbi wins Hong Kong Open
HONG KONG (Reuter): Indonesia's Hariyanto Arbi played his heart out here yesterday to defeat compatriot Ardy Wiranata 15-9, 15-11 in the Hong Kong Open final.
The final was a re-match of their All-England championship showdown and the result was the same with 22-year-old Hariyanto engineering openings for his power smash with deep clears and well-executed drop shots.
Second seed Ardy, who had a two-two win-loss record with his top seeded opponent this year, used his experience to keep himself in the game but he could not match Hariyanto's deadly finishing.
"I played much better today than yesterday when I beat Alan Budikusuma," said the Asian Games champion Hariyanto. He edged out the Olympic gold medalist Alan in a nail-biting three setter on Saturday.
"Ardy is very defensive so I played a patient game and waited for the openings. That's the best match I have played since the All-England final. But I still think Alan, Ardy and myself are still of an equal standard -- I was just that little bit better yesterday and today."
Ardy rolled over Denmark's Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen, the only non-Indonesian survivor in the men's singles competition, on course to reaching yesterday's final.
The women's singles title went to Asian Games gold medalist Bang Soo-hyun of South Korea who outplayed Sweden's Lim Xiaoqing 11-7, 11-6.
Chinese-born Lim, winner of two European events this year, surprised Bang with some unorthodox shots early in the first game to take a 6-2 lead but the Korean's steadier, more conservative approach prevailed.
"I am pleased to have won the title but it was made easier for me because Susi Susanti (of Indonesia) was not playing," said Bang, who won the 1992 Hong Kong Open.
Lim, who defected from China during a stopover in Hong Kong five years ago, said she had become a better player since leaving the mainland. Lim was the straight set winner over Indonesia's Uber Cup heroine Mia Audina in the semifinals.
"I have improved as a player since going to Sweden - I have no regrets," said Lim, whose normally reliable drop shots let her down in the final. "I think badminton in China is going downhill as the players are following the coaches instructions too closely."