Hendrawan wins Thailand Open in all RI final

JAKARTA (JP): Men's singles shuttler Hendrawan won the US$80,000 three-star Thailand Open on Sunday, the only Indonesian success at the event, with China taking the remaining four titles.

Top-seeded Hendrawan, world number three, only needed 29 minutes to defeat compatriot Budi Santoso 15-8, 15-10, in an all- Indonesian final.

"It's never easy to play against your own teammate, especially since we both have the same coach (Agus Dwi Santoso)," he told The Jakarta Post in a telephone interview.

AFP reported the 28-year-old performed exceptionally well against Santoso, exhibiting superior courtcraft and accuracy. He made spectacular and devastating overhead smashes, fast cross- court drop shots and swift drops before the net.

"I regard this victory as a regular one, moreover it was only a three-star tournament. I appreciate my result here as there were lots of tough rivals here especially the Chinese team, which fielded its best shuttlers," said Hendrawan, who earned $6,400 for winning.

The title also ended Hendrawan's drought. Prior to Sunday's win, his last victories were the Singapore Open in 1988 and the Thailand Open in 1997.

"I don't know why I can only perform really well in major tournaments such as the Thomas Cup from 1996 to 2000 and at the 1998 Asian Games," he said with a laugh.

Speaking on his chances at the Indonesia Open at the Senayan Tennis Indoor Stadium, which starts this Wednesday, Hendrawan said he would try his best.

"I always have difficult times at the Indonesia Open, especially when I have to face my own teammates. I have an ambition to win the title too but let's just wait and see," said the second seed in this week's tournament, after Dane Peter Gade Christensen.

Hendrawan said he would evaluate his performances in both the Thailand and Indonesia opens prior to the Olympic Games in Sydney in September.

"I hope to win the gold medal at the Olympics to keep my promise to my country, Indonesia, which won the golds in both the Olympics in 1992 and 1996," he said, as quoted by AFP.

The women's singles title was won by Chinese three-time All- England women's singles champion Ye Zhaoying who beat her compatriot Zhou Mi 11-5, 11-0 in only 25 minutes.

Ye won the All-England honors in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

On Sunday she displayed superior smashes and shots, while Zhou made several unforced errors at the net.

"I am very pleased to win the title here," she said.

In the women's doubles final, China's Ge Fei and Gu Jun beat Yang Wei and Huang Nanyang, also of China, 15-8, 15-11.

The men's doubles top honors went to the Chinese pair of Zhang Jun and Zhang Wei after they defeated the Indonesian duo of Halim Haryanto and Sigit Budiarto 15-5, 15-10, in the last match of the tournament.

"We failed to match their speed. They were too fast in their offense and we just blacked out, feeling unable to do anything," Halim told the Post.

Saturday's mixed doubles final was one by Chinese second seeds Zhang Jun and Gao Ling after defeating the 1998 All England champions Simon Archer and Joanne Goode of England 15-3, 15-2. (yan)