Indonesia clears first hurdle in Asia Cup
Indonesia clears first hurdle in Asia Cup
JAKARTA (JP): Top seed and defending badminton champion
Indonesia cleared its first hurdle at the US$170,000 Asia Cup in
Singapore Indoor Stadium after taming host players -- mostly
Indonesian-born -- 3-0 in the first round-robin match on
Wednesday.
However, world number three Taufik Hidayat was stretched to
the limit before overpowering Ronald Susilo -- Olympic gold
medalist Candra Wijaya's brother in law -- 16-17, 17-14, 17-16 in
the Group A match.
Japan Open winners Candra and Sigit Budiarto, who just
reunited this year, were much too powerful for Lau Kim Pong
Patrick and Aman Santoso with a 15-10, 15-7 victory.
Olympic silver medalist Hendrawan also had to struggle to
eliminate Candra's older brother Indra Wijaya 8-15, 15-11, 15-11.
"Ronald has improved a lot while Taufik has yet to reach his
peak form. Maybe because it's his first match here. On the other
hand, maybe he was disturbed by the lights and wind at the
stadium which make it difficult to control the shuttlecock.
Meanwhile, Indra caused problems for Hendrawan," Candra told The
Jakarta Post.
"As for us, we don't compromise with the opponents. Just beat
them."
In another group match, South Korea was still too powerful for
Hong Kong, beating them 3-0.
Lee Hyun-il opened his country's victory by defeating Agus
Hariyanto 15-12, 15-9. Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong-sung took the
second point by beating Lin Kwok Wa and Albertus Susanto Njoto
15-7, 15-10. Shon Seong-mo sealed Korea's win after winning 15-9,
15-3 over Tam Kai Chuen.
In Group B, another favorite, China, had to swallow a bitter
pill after being upset by Thailand 2-1. Thailand was included in
the competition to replace India, which failed to send All
England winner Pulella Gopichand.
Polsana Boonsak upset All England runner-up Chen Hong 17-15,
8-15, 15-4 but Chinese Zhang Jun and Zhang Wei managed to tie
after defeating Pramote Teerawiwatana and Tesana Pansisavas 15-6,
12-15, 15-3.
Thai old hand Anupap Thiraratsakul relied on his experience to
conclude victory in the decisive match against Chen Yu 14-17, 15-
12, 15-12.
Malaysia also earned a 3-0 victory over Japan. Ong Ewe Hock
defeated Hidetaka Yamada 17-15, 15-3, Malaysia's doubles Chang
Chong Ming and Chew Choon Eng beat Keita Masuda and Tadeshi
Ohtsuka 15-6, 15-9, while Yong Hock Kin beat Shinya Ohtsuka 15-6,
15-4.
Earlier, the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
executive director Karsono said he had asked the association's
West Java chapter chairman Lutfi Hamid to clarify Taufik's
statement.
Taufik, playing for Lutfi's Sangkuriang Graha Sarana club, was
quoted by AFP as saying that he would consider leaving the
country should PBSI fail to extend coach Mulyo Handoyo's
contract, which will end after both major events in Seville,
Spain, from May 28 to June 10. Taufik himself denied the report.
Lutfi told the Post that he had yet to speak to Taufik but
would head to Singapore on Friday.
"He was only worried about his future at the center without
Mulyo. He's just too emotional," Lutfi said from Bandung.
"I hope PBSI officials can step back from responding to the
issue and accommodate Taufik's desire for the sake of national
badminton in the country. (nvn/yan)