Indonesia, China set up Asiad semifinal battle
Indonesia, China set up Asiad semifinal battle
HIROSHIMA, Japan (AFP): World number one Ardy Wiranata launched Indonesia's campaign for the Asian Games men's badminton team title here yesterday, taking his side to a semifinal against old foes China.
The 24-year-old was full of bustling aggression in a 15-9, 15- 7 win over Sompol Kookasemit that set up a 5-0 triumph over Thailand and put his all-court skills on display.
Joko Suprianto, world number two, lost his way before prevailing 18-17, 17-18, 15-5 against Kumthong Vacharapan.
But there were few further alarms for the Thomas Cup champion, hunting for its first Asian Games men's team title since 1970 with the best set of players in a world-class field.
"The Asian Games are very important, winning is very important because it is for the country," said the long-haired Ardy.
Thomas Cup losing finalist Malaysia brushed aside lowly Maldives 5-0 to book its own semifinal place against South Korea, which eased past Taiwan 4-1.
The Koreans' only loss was handed to the doubles combination of Kang Kyung-jin and Lee Kwang-jin by Horng Shin-jeng and Huang Chuan-chen, who won 15-13, 15-8 to pull one back.
China, the defending champion, which has been struggling to rebuild in recent years, was 5-0 victor over Japan.
Indonesian manager Lutfi Hamid and his Malaysian counterpart Ahmad Mohammed Idris both cautiously rated their teams' chances of reaching tomorrow's final at "50-50."
"We may have the best team in the world but everyone here has a chance of winning," said Lutfi, under whose stewardship Indonesia has won the men's Thomas Cup and the women's Uber Cup, symbols of supremacy in badminton.
"We hope we can beat China 3-2, that will be enough for us," said Hamid, who added that Indonesia badly wanted to win the title it last took in 1972.
Sidek's absence because of pneumonia and fitness problems in the wake of the Commonwealth Games has affected Malaysia. Its manager was downcast at the prospect of meeting the Koreans.
Women's event
In the women's contest, South Korea and Japan sailed into the semifinals with lopsided wins over hopelessly outmatched opponents.
The Koreans brushed aside Thailand 5-0 and will now take on defending champion China.
The Japanese beat Hong Kong 4-0 to set up a tough semi-final against favorite Indonesia today. China and Indonesia were given first round byes.
"It is going to be a very close game," Korean manager Kim Joon-soo said of his team's semi-final opponent. "We have trained very hard for the Games and we think we have a gold medal chance if we get through tomorrow."
Bang Soo-hyun, the top Korean shuttler who is seen as a threat to Indonesian badminton queen Susi Susanti, launched Korea on the path of victory by brushing aside Somharuthai Jaroensiri 11-1, 11-3.
Ra Kyung-min defeated Sujitra Eakmongkolpaisarn 11-5, 11-2, and the doubles pairs of Jang Hye-ock and Shin Eun-jang settled the issue with a 15-0, 15-0 whipping of Duchfun Eingsuwanpattama and Raksita Sookboonmak.
Kim Ji-hyun and Gil Young-ah won the second doubles rubber 15- 3, 15-3 against Plernia Boonyarit and Pornsawan Plungwech. Lee Heung Soon completed the final rites with a 11-1, 11-0 win over Natsaran Boonvoramatee.
Hong Kong's Chung Hoi-yuk and Wong Chun-fan put up stern resistance against Japan's Tokiko Hirota and Yuko Koike before bowing 17-16, 15-8 in the second doubles after the home favorites had taken an unassailable 3-0 lead.