Hariyanto beats Taufik to clinch Singapore Open title, plans to shift
Hariyanto beats Taufik to clinch Singapore Open title, plans to shift
SINGAPORE (AFP): Indonesian badminton ace Hariyanto Arbi swept to victory in the Singapore Open singles final Sunday -- and then lifted the lid on his surprise decision to quit his country for Singapore.
Hari, nicknamed for Hariyanto, the world number 30 and 15th seed here, came from a set down to defeat compatriot Taufik Hidayat 13-15, 15-10, 15-11 in the final.
The 27-year-old's switch of allegiance from Indonesia to Singapore had been the main talking point prior to the final.
"I am definitely playing for Singapore after this tournament - win or lose," said Hari, a two-time All-England champion and 1996 Olympics semifinalist.
Hari said he wanted to play for Singapore because of limited opportunities back home.
"It's very hard to keep your place in the Indonesian team because there are so many good players," he said.
Hari had said he received an offer to represent China Taipei but preferred Singapore "because it's much closer to home."
Hari, the 1997 Singapore Open champion, had the crowd on their feet when he gave a polished 40-minute performance against the rising star of Indonesian badminton Taufik.
The 18-year-old Taufik, fresh from his triumph in the Southeast Asian Games in Brunei, was off to a quick start with some smart attacking play to take the opening game 15-13.
But the more experienced Hari, who was also 1995 world champion, slowed the pace down considerably. He took his time to serve, toweled himself and asked for a change of shuttle to upset his teenage opponent's rhythm.
A lead of 6-1 was, however, not enough for him to press ahead as Taufik engaged him in net play and drew level at 7-7. The players went neck and neck till 10-10 before Hari moved up a gear and finished off the game with a series of leaping smashes that had the crowd screaming for more.
The decider again saw Hari, nicknamed "Jumping Jack Flash" for his trademark leaping smash, quick off the blocks and leading 7- 3.
But Taufik was not ready to give in. He not only fought back to level at seven but led 8-7 at the change of ends.
Another two points were all that Taufik could score thereafter, as Hari again employed his slowing down tactics to perfection and squeezed ahead. The sudden change of pace caught Hidayat unawares and, before he knew it, he was facing match- point at 14-10.
Hari succeeded on his fourth match point to pocket the US$12,000 first prize. Taufik had to remain content with half the amount.
In the women's final, China's Ye Zhaoying retained her crown defeating compatriot Gong Zhichao.
Ye won 11-5, 5-11, 11-7 in a keenly contested final.
Ye's tactics of attempting to overpower Gong seemed to work as she breezed through the opening game 11-5, only to find herself hitting a wall as Gong retrieved well to level the match at the same score, 11-5.
It was a more cautious Ye that took the court for the decider and chose her moments of attack judiciously to wrap up the final with a 11-7 win.
Ye was $10,350 richer for her efforts, while Gong had to settle for $4,950.
Indonesia failed to fulfill its ambition to bring home two titles as men's doubles of Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan, second seeded, had to bow out to Malaysian pairs of Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah 15-7, 14-15, 15-12.
In the women's doubles, top seeded Chinese pairs of Huang Nanyan and Yang Wei were too powerful for Indonesian duo of Indarti Issolina and Carmelita to win 15-3, 15-8.
Results
Men's singles: Hariyanto Arbi (Ina x15) bt Taufik Hidayat (Ina x8) 13-15, 15-10, 15-11
Women's singles: Ye Zhaoying (Chn x2) bt Gong Zhichao (Chn x3) 11-5, 5-11, 11-7
Men's doubles: Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah (Mal) bt Candra Wijaya/Tony Gunawan (Ina x2) 15-7, 14-15, 15-12.
Women's doubles: Huang Nanyan/Yang Wei (Chn x1) bt Indarti Issolina/Carmelita (Ina) 15-3, 15-8