Indonesia, China share glory in Asian tourney
Indonesia, China share glory in Asian tourney
JAKARTA (JP): World-class players assured Indonesia and China
one title apiece at the US$150,000 JVC Asian Badminton
Championships on Saturday.
It came as no surprise that the Indonesian men's doubles
players have set up a final between them, while the men's singles
final will see an all-Chinese affair on Sunday.
The veteran tandem of Bambang Suprianto and Tri Kusheryanto
are lined up for the title after coming through a relatively easy
match against second-string compatriots Alven Yulianto and Hendra
A. Gunawan, which they won 15-4, 15-9.
Bambang and Tri, who rarely play as a team, will try their
luck when they face Sydney Olympics gold medalists Candra Wijaya
and Tony Gunawan, who defeated the only Chinese pair left in the
draw, Chen Rui and Wang Wei, 15-4, 17-14.
Tony said there was a lapse in his teamwork with Candra at the
end of the game that allowed the younger Chinese to claw back
into the game.
"We had a 14-9 lead in the second game but the Chinese managed
to reverse the pressure on us when we played so hastily and were
prone to mistakes," Tony told The Jakarta Post on the phone from
Manila.
He refused to take the final lightly.
"Candra and I cannot afford to let our guard down because Mas
Bambang and Tri are good shuttlers despite being older than us."
"We must not underestimate the older pair but the most
important thing is we have already secured the title. The rest is
up to us in the court," he added.
In the men's singles, newcomer Lin Dan cruised to the final to
meet compatriot third seed Xia Xuanze.
Lin was coming from behind before posting a 3-15, 15-11, 15-7
victory over Shon Seung-mo of South Korea. On the other hand, Xia
had an easy 15-7, 15-8 win against Indonesian-born Indra Wijaya,
who is now playing for Singapore.
China and Indonesia will also lock horns in the women's
doubles crown, while Indonesia has another hope in the mixed
doubles.
Top seeds Gao Ling and Huang Sui were too powerful when they
outclassed second-stringers Eny Erlangga and Novita 15-5, 15-3.
Gao and Huang will be challenged by Indonesia's most seasoned
pair of Deyana Lomban and Vita Marissa who had to work hard
before beating Zhao Tingting and Zhang Yawen of China 15-11, 11-
15, 15-12.
Bambang has another chance of winning a title, pairing with
Minarti Timur to beat compatriots Tri Kusheryanto and Emma
Ermawati 15-4, 15-11 and to set up a final with first seeds Kim
Dong-moon and Ra Kyung-min of South Korea.
Kim and Ra were forced to fight to the end before beating Tony
and Vita Marissa 12-15, 15-13, 15-9.
"I was too tired after playing the men's doubles semifinals
match. Besides, it's my first time to play in a mixed doubles
match," said Tony of his loss in the mixed doubles.
"We were able to take the first game because I was always in
the front with Vita behind me, so I guess Kim and Ra were quite
shocked with this style. It is also my position in the men's
doubles.
"But in mixed doubles, the men usually stay behind with the
women to stand near the net," he added.
In the women's singles, top seed Wang Chen of Hong Kong fended
off a persistent challenge from Dong Fang of China to seal a
hard-earned 5-11, 11-1, 11-4 victory.
In the final, Wang will play another Chinese, Zhang Ning, who
easily disposed of Ling Wa Ting of Hong Kong 11-2, 11-3. (nvn)