Indonesian Hendrawan, Budi survive in Thailand Open

Indonesian Hendrawan, Budi survive in Thailand Open

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian top seed Hendrawan and compatriot
Budi Santoso survived in their quarterfinals tests at the
Thailand Open in Bangkok on Thursday.

Hendrawan, ranked third in the world, had to sweat it out
before finally overcoming young Malaysian shuttler Hashim Hafiz
15-6, 7-15, 15-4.

Coach Agus Dwi Santoso said in a telephone interview:
"Hendrawan lost his concentration, especially in the second game.
Besides, Hashim's defense was really solid.

The 28-year-old Indonesian had earlier eliminated home
favorite Anuphap Thiraratskul 15-2, 15-17, 15-12 Wednesday
evening after winning over Michael Popov of Bulgaria 15-8, 15-10
in the first round.

Hendrawan, Indonesia's hero in the Thomas Cup championships in
Kuala Lumpur in May, will face fifth seeded Chen Hong.

Budi Santoso successfully buried Thai shuttler Narapol
Sarawan's dream to reach the quarters by winning 15-10, 15-8. On
Wednesday, Budi had to call on his energy reserves to overcome
Malaysian old hand Ong Ewe Hock 17-15, 17-16.

Budi, whose world ranking has dropped to 33, earlier beat
Hidetaka Yamada of Japan 15-2, 15-10.

Runner-up in the Indonesia Open in 1998 and 1999, he is
scheduled to meet second seed and All England winner Xia Xuanze
of China.

But two other Indonesian shuttlers had to return to the bench
as they lost in the second round Wednesday.

Second stringer Ronny Agustinus -- who survived his first test
against Shinya Otsuka of Japan 15-7, 10-15, 15-6 -- bowed out to
Fung Permadi, an Indonesian playing for China Taipei, in the
second round 15-9, 15-10.

Meanwhile, Johan Hadikusuma lost to world number 11 Luo Yigang
of China 2-15, 11-15 after he had defeated Tam Kai Chuen of Hong
Kong 15-9, 15-11 in the first round.

In the women's singles, Indonesia's sole hope Ellen Angelina
failed to reach the second round after succumbing to seventh seed
Yasuko Misui of Japan 10-13, 11-9, 2-11.

Indonesian men's doubles Sigit Budiarto and Halim Heryanto
also managed to reach the third round after crushing the young
Malaysian pair Jeremy Gan and Hong Chieng Hun 15-4, 17-14. They
were scheduled to meet Daniel Shirley and John Gordon of New
Zealand late Thursday.

Team manager Imelda Wigoeno told us by fax that Halim was very
nervous during the second game and made unforced errors. Luckily
Sigit, relying on his experience on the world stage, took the
initiative to keep attacking and accelerating the rhythm of the
game before finally winning the match. (yan)