Hendrawan pulls out of individual badminton event

KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Indonesia's hopes of winning the men's singles crown at the 21st Southeast Asian Games has dwindled with the exit of Hendrawan, who complained of a leg injury on Wednesday.

National singles coach Agus Dwi Santoso said Hendrawan pulled a muscle on his right leg following his match against Malaysian number one Roslin Hashim in the men's team final on Tuesday.

Agus, however, said there was nothing to worry about Hendrawan's injury as it was not serious. Hendrawan, the coach added, will recover in time for the China Open later this month.

Hendrawan was replaced by Ronny Agustinus, who beat Brunei's Noor Izwan Paini 15-1, 15-8 to advance to the quarterfinals where he will face lowly Zaw Win of Myanmar in the match played at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam, near here.

Another Indonesian player, Marlev Mainaky also marched into the final eight round after defeating Anuphap Teeraratsakul of Thailand 3-15, 15-6, 15-4. He will meet unknown Kennevic Asuncion of the Philippines in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Thailand's Boonsak Polsana, better known as a spoiler than a winner, again pulled off an upset when he beat Malaysia's Ong Ewe Hock 15-11, 15-9.

Ong, who helped Malaysia win the team gold yesterday, looked lethargic against the 19-year-old Boonsak.

In the team final against Indonesia, Ewe Hock beat world number five Marlev to set Malaysia on the path to a 3-2 win.

Despite Ong's defeat Malaysia should still fancy their chances in the men's singles thanks to Hendrawan's departure.

Boonsak, a law student of Bangkok Sripatum University, said he just kept the shuttle in play as he could see that Ewe Hock was very tired.

"I'm more confident now. There is no Hendrawan either. But my greatest barrier could be Rony or, if I reach the final, Roslin (Hashim)," said Boonsak as quoted by Bernama. The Thai will meet Vietnam's Nguyen Quang Minh in the quarterfinals.

Malaysia's badminton consultant Indra Gunawan said now the country had to bank their hopes on Roslin, who beat Singaporean Gerald Ho Hee Teck 15-5, 15-3.

Roslin, ranked sixth in the world, will meet unfancied Myanmar player Lwin Aung, who beat Huzaini Salleh of Brunei 15-7, 15-7.

Roslin said he was all geared up to make the final and win one more gold for Malaysia.

In the men's doubles, Indonesian scratch pair of Tony Gunawan and Bambang Suprianto put their overnight defeat behind them by beating Brunei's Michael Nyau-Zailani Yuin 15-5, 15-5 for a place in the quarterfinals.

The Indonesians, who lost to Malaysia's Choon Eng-Chong Ming in the team event on Tuesday, will now play Singapore's Khoo Khian Teck-Chua Yong Joo who were dragged into the rubber game before winning 8-15, 15-6, 15-3 against unfancied Cambodians Khun Vanna-Krang Sokhang.