Hariyanto, Martin lost on first day of GP Finals

Hariyanto, Martin lost on first day of GP Finals

JAKARTA (JP): Some fancied players will have to work harder
today than they anticipated after losing their opening matches of
the round-robin section of the 1997 Lipton World Grand Prix
Badminton Finals at the Senayan Indoor Stadium yesterday.

The 1995 World Champion, Hariyanto Arbi, who won the Singapore
Open in July, had to yield to junior Marlev Mainaky 11-15, 11-15
in 46 minutes.

"Marlev played very well tonight. His smashes were very sharp.
I played badly at the net and it gave Marlev opportunities to
smash. I could not perform my powerful and speedy smashes as
usual," Hariyanto, mostly known as Hari, told a post-match
conference.

"This year my form has been very bad. I haven't had any
confidence and I've often been impatient in many important
matches. My chances in the tournament are slimmer with this
loss," he said.

Hari will meet Dane Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen today. Stuer-
Lauridsen lost to Sun Jun of China 2-15, 14-18.

Marlev, a younger brother of Indonesia's men's doubles Olympic
champion Rexy Mainaky, said: "I was more patient compared with
Hari. I didn't have any target in the tournament but only to play
my best.

"I met Sun Jun once and I lost to him at the Singapore Open
quarterfinals in July. I hope I can overcome him tomorrow," said
the Indonesia Open finalist.

In the women's singles, Camilla Martin of Denmark lost to
Chinese Wang Chen 7-11, 3-11 in 30 minutes.

Martin, who has just recovered from a back injury, said: "I'm
not disappointed with the results because I didn't play well
today due to my injury. I've just practiced for about two weeks."

"I got the injury two years ago but two months ago I suffered
it again after practicing and it's getting worse. I had to rest
for 14 days before I could play. It's really a problem when a
player must stop competing for two months," she said.

Martin will meet Indonesia's Mia Audina tomorrow. The 18-year-
old Mia challenges Wang today.

Meanwhile, top seeded Peter Gade Christensen of Denmark had to
pump out all his energy to tame the 1992 Olympic gold medalist
Alan Budikusuma 7-15, 15-8, 15-12 in the men's singles Group A.

"It's really difficult to play on court three because it was
very windy. Alan knows the stadium better and he was very
powerful in the first set," said the world number one, who needed
71 minutes to win the match.

"The first match is really important to know the court and I
hope I will perform better tomorrow," he said.

Gade Christensen, who will celebrate his 21st birthday on
Sunday, challenges Indonesia's Budi Santoso today. He lost to
Budi in the China Open quarterfinals last month.

Old hand Hermawan Susanto proved that experience could save a
player's neck in a major tournament. He beat junior Indra Wijaya
15-9, 17-14.

Hermawan will face Chen Gang of China while Indra will meet
the 1996 Olympic gold medalist Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen, who beat
Chen Gang of China 15-7, 15-10.

Hendrawan failed to overcome All England winner Dong Jiong of
China, losing 14-17, 15-12, 8-15. Hendrawan injured his right
thigh in the third set when Dong was leading 14-8.

In other women's singles matches, China's Zhang Ning beat
compatriot Dai Yun 11-5, 11-6. She plays the 1992 Olympic gold
medalist and the 1996 Olympic bronze medalist Susi Susanti of
Indonesia today.

Chinese Ye Zhaoying beat Kim Ji-hyun of South Korea 11-3, 11-6
and meets compatriot Yao Yan tomorrow. (yan)

Selected results (prefix number denotes seeding):

Men's singles:
Peter Gade Christensen (Den) bt Alan Budikusuma (Ina) 7-15, 15-8,
15-12
Marlev Mainaky (Ina) bt Hariyanto Arbi (Ina) 15-11, 15-11
Hermawan Susanto (Ina) bt Indra Wijaya (Ina) 15-9, 17-14
Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen (Den) bt Chen Gang (Chn) 15-7, 15-10
Sun Jun (Chn) bt Thomas Stuer Lauridsen (Den) 15-2, 18-14
Dong Jiong (Chn) bt Hendrawan (Ina) 17-14, 12-15, 15-8

Women's singles:
Wang Chen (Chn) bt Camilla Martin (Den) 11-7, 11-3
Zhang Ning (Chn) bt Dai Yun (Chn) 11-5, 11-6
Ye Zhaoying (Chn) bt Kim Ji-hyun (Kor)

Men's doubles:
Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky (Ina) bt Antonius/Denny Kantono (Ina)
15-9, 15-6

Mixed doubles:
Tri Kusharjanto/Minarti Timur (Ina) bt Michael Soogard/Rikke
Olsen (Den) 15-2, 15-11
Liu Yong/Ge Fei (Chn) bt Imam Tohari/Emma Ermawati (Ina) 15-13,
13-15, 15-11
Bambang Suprianto/Riseu Rosalina (Ina) bt Sandiarto/Finarsih
(Ina) 15-10, 10-15, 15-2