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Sat, 15 Sep 2001

JP/Indonesia secures two gold medals in badminton

Indonesia secures two gold medals in badminton

KUALA LUMPUR (JP): Indonesia lost the prestigious men's singles crown in the badminton competition on Friday, but will be content with at least two golds after its men's doubles and mixed doubles players go to the finals after winning their semi finals.

Top-seeded pairing in the men's doubles Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto beat a weakened Malaysian team of Wong Choong Han and Lee Wan Wah 15-4, 15-2. They will meet new partners Tony Gunawan and Bambang Suprianto, who avenged their loss in the men's team final on Wednesday with an easy 15-7, 15-6 win over another Malaysian duo of Chan Chong Ming and Chew Choon Eng.

The mixed doubles gold medal will be fought over by Nova Widhianto and Vita Marissa and Malaysia Open winners Bambang Suprianto and Emma Ermawaty.

Nova and Vita defeated host team of Chew and Wong Pey Tty 15- 2, 15-8, while Bambang and Emma were stretched to the end before downing Khunakorni and Saralee Thoungthongkam of Thailand 11-15, 15-4, 15-13.

Indonesia has the chance of winning two more golds in the women's singles and doubles in the finals at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam, Selangor on Saturday.

Top-seeded Lidya Djaelawidjaya defeated Wong Miew Kheng of Malaysia 11-7, 11-7 to set up a rematch with Sujitra Ekmongkolpaisarn of Thailand, who sent another Malaysian Ng Mee Fen crashing 11-2, 11-2.

In the women's doubles, Indonesian pair Deyana Lomban and Vita played in a surprisingly hard-fought semifinal duel against home favorites Wong Pey Tty and Norhasikin Amin before winning 15-7, 15-17, 15-5. They will take on another Malaysian pair Lim Pek Siah and Ang Li Peng, who crushed Duanganong and Kunchala of Thailand 15-11, 15-4.

Indonesia managed only two bronzes in the men's singles, after both Ronny Agustinus and Marlev Mainaky crashed out.

A lackluster Rony went down to giant killer Boonsak Polsana of Thailand 15-6, 15-1. The Thai, who upset host player Ong Ewe Hock in the first round, will play another Malaysian Roslin Hashim who outplayed Marlev 3-15, 15-6, 15-4. (nvn)