Hendrawan goes through in Danish Open
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian men's singles top seed Hendrawan and men's doubles top seeds Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian reached the next round at the US$250,000 Danish Open at Farum Arena in Copenhagen.
The home crowd was disappointed when their aging hero Poul- Erik Hoyer-Larsen, the 1996 Olympics gold medalist and defending champion here, bowed out to a lesser known Chinese player.
Hendrawan, world number one and the 2000 Olympic silver medalist, had to fight hard to defeat Par-Henrik Croona of Sweden 15-8, 15-14 Wednesday. The 28-year-old Indonesian will next meet Chen Wei of China, who tamed Dicky Palyama of the Netherlands 10- 15, 15-5, 15-6.
Another Indonesian, Johan Hadikusuma, had to work hard to upset fourth seed Pulella Gopichand of India 15-13, 15-12. Johan faces young Chinese qualifier Lin Liwen, who defeated Joachim Fischer Nielsen of Denmark 15-3, 7-15, 15-10.
Second seed Peter Gade Christensen, who is expected to take over the role of Hoyer-Larsen in Danish people's heart, also reached the third round by defeating teammate Martin Kyrger 15-5, 15-9.
In men's doubles, Flandy and Eng Hian were stretched to the limit by Ian Sullivan and Anthony Clark of England before the Indonesians finally managed to conclude the match 13-15, 15-12, 15-6.
Flandy and Eng Hian will face Quinten van Dalm and Dennis Lens of the Netherlands. The Dutch pair also had to fight hard to defeat Michael Lamp and Jonas Rasmussen of Denmark 15-6, 10-15, 15-7.
Compatriots Sigit Budiarto and Halim Heryanto, fresh from their victory at the Dutch Open last week, are to meet Norio Imai and Hiroshi Ohyama of Japan later Thursday. The Japanese beat Bjorn Siegemund and Joachim Tesche of Germany 12-15, 17-16, 15-9.
Hoyer-Larsen, perhaps playing his last match before a home crowd, failed to overcome young talented Xiao Hui of China and bowed out 11-15, 15-8, 6-15.
"I didn't play my normal game, because in my head I was thinking too much that this could be my last match ever," said the 34-year-old Dane as quoted by www.worldbadminton.net..
"I was also very tired. For these last few weeks, I allowed myself to practice only three or four times a week; which was nice because it was only pleasure."
"I have found in badminton what I was looking for, a great deal of traveling, fun, meeting people and seeing places. It all started as a hobby, then it turned into work, and now it is time for it become a hobby again."
Hoyer-Larsen, who failed to perform his best during the year due to the illness of his wife, will be honored in a special ceremony Thursday evening right after a pop concert by the Danish pop group Michael Learns to Rock. (yan)