Hendrawan and Susi make finals
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian men's singles player Hendrawan and women's singles veteran Susi Susanti booked final places yesterday in the US$150,000 Singapore Open badminton tournament.
Eighth seeded Hendrawan defeated Sun Jun of China 15-10, 15-6 to meet top seeded Dane Peter Gade Christensen, who beat Malaysian Yong Hock Kin 17-15, 5-15, 15-9. The finals will be played today.
Susi, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist and the 1996 Olympic bronze medalist, overcame world number one Camilla Martin of Denmark 3-11, 11-6, 11-2. Susi, 27, who plans to retire after the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in December, will meet arch rival Ye Zhaoying of China, who eliminated her younger compatriot Gong Zhichao 11-8, 11-2.
Antara news agency reported that the men's singles winner will pocket US$11,050 and the women's singles champion will bring home $8,500.
Indonesia won the mixed doubles after Tri Kusherjanto/Minarti Timur upset top seeded Michael Sogaard/Rikke Olsen from Denmark 15-10, 15-8 in yesterday's final.
The country was already assured the men's doubles crown after four Indonesian men's teams squared off in the semifinals yesterday.
The 1997 World champions Candra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto defeated Tony Gunawan/Haryanto Halim 17-15, 15-5 to meet the 1996 Olympic gold medalists Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky. Ricky/Rexy defeated Denny Kantono/Antonius Budi Arianto 15-9, 15-10. (yan)
Results
Finals: Tri Kusherjanto/Minarti Timur (Ina) bt Michael Sogaard/Rikke Olsen (Den) 15-10, 15-8
Semifinals:
Men's singles: Peter-Gade Christensen (Den) bt Yong Hock Kin (Mal) 17-15, 5-15, 15-9 Hendrawan (Ina) bt Sun Jun (Chn) 15-10, 15-6
Women's singles: Susi Susanti (Ina) bt Camilla Martin (Den) 3-11, 11-6, 11-2 Ye Zhaoying (Chn) bt Gong Zhichao (Chn) 11-8, 11-2
Women's doubles: Ge Fei/Gu Jun (Chn) bt Nicole Van Hooren/Lotte Jonathans (Ned) 15-6, 15-7 Qin Yiyuan/Tang Netian (Chn) bt Huang Sui/Lu Ying (Chn) 15-7, 15-2
Men's doubles: Candra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto (Ina) bt Tony Gunawan/Haryanto Halim (Ina) 17-15, 15-5 Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky (Ina) bt Denny Kantono/Antonius Budi Arianto (Ina) 15-9, 15-10