Indonesia nears double feat in badminton events

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (JP): Indonesia moved a step closer to a double gold medal in the badminton team event at the 20th Southeast Asian Games on Monday.

The starless Indonesian women's team was still too strong for Vietnam, which suffered a 5-0 rout in the semifinals. Indonesia will now meet Thailand, a 3-1 winner over Malaysia.

With only four countries participating in the women's team event, the opportunity looks great for Indonesia to retain the gold which has never slipped out of its grasp since it entered the Games in 1977.

Indonesia's first singles Cindana Hartono had no trouble to eliminate Le Thi Kim Anh 11-3, 11-5. Her success was followed by teammate Lydia Djaelawidjaja who overwhelmed Tran Thi Thanh Thao 11-0, 11-1. Third singles Ellen Angelina also won over Ngo Hai van 11-4, 11-4.

Indonesia's first doubles of Etty Tantri and Cynthia Tuwankotta were too strong for their contenders Le/Tran and won easily 15-2, 15-0. Second doubles of Indarti Issoliana and Emma Ermawati overcame Nguyen Hanh Dune and Ngo Hai Vaj 15-3 in the first set. In the second set, the Vietnamese pair had to retire as Nguyen hurt her ankle in 4-0.

Lydia said: "We won easily because the Vietnamese skills were below ours. But they have the guts to attack and their netting was OK."

Thai Sujitra Eakmongkolpaisarn beat Malaysian Ng Mee Fen 11-6, 11-4 in the first singles match. But second singles Sathinee Jankrajangwong lost to Woon Sze Mei 6-11, 11-13.

Women's doubles of Sujitra and Saralee Toongthongkam had to work hard to overcome Joanne Quay/Ang Li Peng 13-15, 15-12, 15-13 in a thrilling match.

Thitikan Duangsiri sealed Thailand's victory after crushing Lee Yin Yin 11-1, 11-0.

Cindana, who is scheduled to meet Sujitra on Tuesday's final, said she was optimistic she would be able to tie 2-2 in their four meets. Cindana lost to the Thai in the 1998 JVC Asian Badminton Championships and the 1998 Asian Games but she won in the 1999 World Championships.

In the men's event, Indonesia secured a final berth to meet arch rival Malaysia in Tuesday's final after eliminating Singapore 5-0. Malaysia beat Thailand 3-0 in the other semifinal.

First singles Taufik Hidayat was too strong for Ho Hee Teck who bowed out 15-2, 15-5 while first doubles Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian crushed Hee Lick Kai and Ho Yen Nam 15-1, 15-5.

Second singles Ronny Agustinus eliminated Lee Yen Hui 15-6, 15-3. Second doubles of Wahyu Agung and Halim Heryanto gave a free lesson to Ho Hee Teck and Kuo Wen Wayne by winning 15-0, 15- 1. Third singles Jeffer Rosobin sealed the victory by beating Chua Yong Hong 15-4, 15-0.

Malaysia's first singles Wong Choon Han was stretched to the limit before sinking Polsana Boonsak 17-14, 12-15, 15-4.

Chew Choon Eng and Rosman Razak beat Kunakorn Sudhisodhi and Kitipon Kitikul 15-10, 15-13 while veteran Rashid Sidek secured Malaysia's final berth after beating Anuphap Teeraratsakul 15-10, 15-0.

Taufik said he was optimistic he would overcome Wong although they had never met before.

"I saw his match and I think he didn't play as well as usual. In the second set, he lost his concentration and started to be impatient. I think I have a chance," said Taufik, who celebrates his 18th birthday on Aug. 10.

"If I can contribute the team event gold, it will be my best birthday present."

"Wong is good in his attack and netting but I think he's a bit moody. If he is in a bad mood, he can not concentrate for the match," he said. (yan)