Hermawan Susanto takes U.S. Open title

Hermawan Susanto takes U.S. Open title

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Hermawan Susanto gave spectators an
idea of what to expect at the 1996 Olympic Games badminton
competition when he destroyed Chinese hopeful Dong Jiong for the
U.S. Open title in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday.

Olympic bronze medalist Hermawan had an uphill struggle in the
opening stage of his overall comfortable 15-10, 15-3 victory, his
second title of the year. He triumphed also in the world Grand
Prix badminton series opener in Taipei in January.

Indonesia completed a double in the Olympic tune-up
competition when its world men's number two pair of Bambang
Suprianto and Gunawan overcame China's finalists Huang Zhanzhong
and Xin Jiang 15-3, 15-10.

The face-saving victories came after a series of upset defeats
hit the Indonesian camp, which currently reigns the badminton
world.

Dong and company dealt Indonesia its heaviest blow when he
ousted Indonesia's world number two and top-seed Ardy Wiranata in
the quarterfinals. A solid team of Huang Zhanzhong and Xin Jiang
scalped world number one pair of Rexy Mainaky and Ricky Subagja
in a thrilling three-set semifinal.

South Korea added insult to injury as Gil Young-ah and Kim
Dong-moon teamed up superbly to outlast Indonesian mixed doubles
top-seeds Trikus Heryanto and Minarti Timur 15-7, 10-15, 15-13.
The Indonesians were favored to notch a hat trick following their
two successive victories in the Indonesia Open and Singapore Open
last month.

Bambang and Gunawan totally dominated the final match against
their younger opponents. The Chinese flexed their muscles to
force a tight first set, but ran out of steam in the quick second
game.

China won a consolation as world champion Ye Zhaoying, seeded
second here, struggled all the way to beat top seed Bang Soo-hyun
of South Korea 12-10, 3-11, 11-9 for the women's title. (amd)