Indonesia assured of men's singles crown
JAKARTA (JP): Olympic champion Alan Budikusuma assured Indonesia of the men's singles crown at the US$170,000 Indonesia Open badminton championships when he joined his all-conquering team to sweep all four semifinal berths yesterday.
Alan, fresh from his Malaysia Open victory last Sunday, did not need to wait too long for a place in today's semifinals when South Korean second seed Park Sung-woo was forced out of the tournament with broken Achilles' tendon.
Alan led the first set 12-10 when world number two Park retired. Asia champion Park surprised the crowd, which who filled the Senayan indoor stadium, when he tumbled after rounding his body for Alan's wide lob.
Park lay motionless for about ten minutes before he was stretchered off the court for medical treatment.
Park was the only non-Indonesian player to reach yesterday's men's singles quarterfinals but could have spoiled Indonesia's bid for the prestigious title.
Alan, inspired by his fiancee Susi Susanti's win, displayed his best form to go up 9-6 and 12-7. Park, however, produced a brilliant comeback. He sped up the rhythm to wear out Alan's patience, leaving the home crowd sitting restlessly on their benches.
The crowd appeared to find an outlet for their tension when Park fell, giving the South Korean a standing count as a referee does when a boxer who is knocked down.
Alan will now meet former world champion Joko Suprianto who struggled to beat his junior Lioe Tiong Ping 15-6, 18-15 yesterday.
Top seed and world champion Hariyanto Arbi will play title holder Ardy Wiranata for the other final spot today. Hariyanto put friendship on the back burner to grind out an easy 15-3, 15-5 win over Marleve Mainaky. Ardy also had a little trouble disposing of old war horse Hermawan Susanto in straight sets 15- 10, 15-6.
Women's singles
The women's singles draw went as expected yesterday with the top four seeds securing semifinal berths.
While Susi and other two favorites labored, South Korean number one seed Bang Soo-hyun broke no sweat on her way to reaching the final four round. Bang did everything right to steamroll unheralded Chinese Dai Yun 11-0, 11-3.
Bang now sets up an all-South Korean semifinal against Kim Ji- hyun who doused local heroine Lidya Djaelawijaya's fire with a come-from-behind 5-11, 11-6, 11-2 win.
Malaysia Open winner Susi scared her fans when she dropped a set in her thrilling match against another South Korean Ra Kyung- min. Susi, however, managed to calm her nerves to claim an 11-6, 5-11, 11-5 victory after 50 minutes of play.
Susi will renew her long rivalry against her China-born Swede Lim Xiaoqing for a place in tomorrow's final. Lim bounced back from a first set loss to beat struggling home favorite Yuliani Sentosa 7-11, 11-3, 11-6.
Lim upset Susi in the All-England semifinals last March, but suffered a rout in their last meeting in the Malaysia Open semifinals last week. "I'm not saying I have a big chance of beating Susi on her home ground, but I will make her struggle," Lim said. (amd)