Hock Kin steals Indonesia's glory

Hock Kin steals Indonesia's glory

JAKARTA (JP): Home shuttlers entertained their victory hungry
supporters with devastating displays at the US$120,000 Sanyo
Indonesia Open on Sunday, but conceded the prestigious men's
crown to Malaysian second stringer Yong Hock Kin.

A nothing-to-lose Hock Kin kept his composure to tame an
error-prone Budi Santoso and silence a crowd of thousands who
packed to the 10,000-seat Senayan Indoor Stadium in the hope of
seeing their badminton idols repeat their clean sweep of last
year.

Hock Kin's success in giving Malaysia its first men's singles
title ever here served a warning to Indonesia's bid for at least
two gold medals at the upcoming Asian Games, not to mention major
challenges from top flight Malaysian, Chinese and South Korean
players who were absent from the tournament.

Before Hock Kin's easy 15-7, 15-6 victory, Indonesia won
titles from the mixed doubles team of Tri Kusharjanto and Minarti
Timur and from Mia Audina in the women's singles.

A makeshift women's pair of Eliza Nathanael and Deyana Lomban
lifted a third title for Indonesia after coming from a set down
to beat Denmark's Marlene Thomsen and Rikke Olsen 7-15, 17-15,
15-7 in a nail-biting match.

Olympic men's doubles champions Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky
then sealed the glorious day with a 15-4, 15-5 win over
compatriots Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian, a repeat of their
previous clash in the final of the Danish Open two weeks ago.

Playing under the deafening cheers of fanatical supporters,
Budi lost the firepower which helped him to oust Olympic gold
medalist and second seed Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen in Saturday's
semifinals.

World number eight Hock Kin piled pressure on Budi with
aggressive strokes, forcing the home player into numerous errors
throughout the game.

"I think I won easily. Budi was more exhausted than I was
because he played rubber sets yesterday (Saturday). I watched
Budi playing and thought how to anticipate him," said the
24-year-old Hock Kin who pocketed the top $9.800 purse for
winning his first career title.

"I was really surprised that I took the title," said Hock Kin,
who has borrowed money from friends to compete in international
tournaments over the last two years.

"I'll use the prize money to pay back my debts," he giggled.

A dejected Budi said he could not maintain his cool against a
stubborn player like Hock Kin.

"I have problems in taking on left-handed opponents," said
Budi. Hoyer-Larsen, whom he beat on Saturday, was also a left-
hander.

Maiden title

Mia also collected her first title at the tournament in the
absence of six-times winner Susi Susanti, who is pregnant, and a
number of the world's top players.

World number five and top seed Mia was untroubled in
eliminating second seed and her chief rival Mette Sorensen of
Denmark 11-0, 11-6.

But Mia refused to play down the competitive standard of her
final match, particularly because Sorensen managed to go 4-1 and
6-4 ahead in the second set before falling behind to Mia's
strokeplay.

"I don't think that was an easy match. There's no match
without a fight," Mia told a post-match media conference.

"I had great motivation to win this tournament. I wanted to
show the public that I'm back to this stage again, and I have
proved it," she added.

Her boyfriend Tylio Lobman accompanied her during the
conference.

"My victory is a birthday present for Tylio, who will be 23 on
Nov. 27," said the 19-year-old shuttler who bagged $8,280 for her
labors. Sorensen earned $3,960.

Mia crashed to compatriot Ellen Angelina in last year's
quarterfinals.

Mia said she would not compete in this month's Hong Kong Open
because she was preparing for the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in
December.

"I know I'll meet tougher shuttlers at the Asiad but I hope
this victory will give me more confidence," she said. (yan)

Results:

Men's singles:
Yong Hock Kin (Mal) bt Budi Santoso (Ina) 15-7, 15-6

Women's singles:
Mia Audina (Ina) bt Mette Sorensen (Den) 11-0, 11-6

Men's doubles:
Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky (Ina) bt Flandy Limpele/Eng Hian (Ina)
15-4, 15-5

Women's doubles:
Eliza Nathanael/Deyana Lomban (Ina) bt Marlene Thomsen/Rikke
Olsen (Den) 7-15, 17-15, 15-7

Mixed doubles:
Tri Kusharjanto/Minarti Timur (Ina) bt Michael Sogaard/Rikke
Olsen (Den) 10-15, 15-6, 15-6