Indonesian shuttlers dominate U.S. Open
Indonesian shuttlers dominate U.S. Open
ORANGE, California (Reuter): Indonesia dominated the finals of the U.S. Open Badminton Championships on Saturday, winning four of the five events -- the men's and women's singles and doubles.
Top-seeded Joko Suprianto remained atop the international men's singles rankings after beating Denmark's second-seeded Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen 15-13, 15-13 on Saturday night at the Orange County Badminton Club.
With his victory over Hoyer-Larsen, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist who was rated third in the world, Joko earned US$13,000 of the tournament's $200,000 purse.
In the men's doubles, a patchwork team of Chandra Wijaya and Sigit, playing in their first tournament together, upset Malaysia's second-seeded Yap Kim Hock and Cheah Soon Kit 18-16, 15-10.
Chandra and Sigit, who usually play with other partners, were unranked as a pair internationally as the U.S. Open began. Yap and Cheah, the 1996 Olympic silver medalists, were third.
Indonesians took the women's events, too. Top-seeded Mia Audina, the 1996 Olympic silver medalist in the women's singles, won her first major tournament.
Mia, rated fourth in the world, earned an 11-5, 12-9 victory over second-seeded Camilla Martin of Denmark, the world's sixth- ranked player.
In the women's doubles, top-seeded Rosiana Zelin and Eliza, the world's third-ranked team, swept Britain's second-seeded Joanne Goode and Julie Bradbury 15-7, 15-5.
Two Olympic gold medalists from South Korea won the mixed doubles championship. Kim Dong-moon and Chung So-young swept Britain's Chris Hunt and Denmark's Helene Kirkegaard 15-5, 15-7.
Kim, ranked third in the world in the mixed doubles with Gil Young Ah, won his gold medal in Atlanta. Chung earned hers in women's doubles in 1992.
Rallies
Joko had to repel rallies in each game against Hoyer-Larsen. In the first game, Joko took leads of 5-1 and 10-6 before Hoyer- Larsen moved ahead, 11-10. However, Joko scored all five of his remaining points on the Dane's unforced errors.
Joko built advantages of 6-0 and 11-4 in the second game, then Hoyer-Larsen narrowed his deficit to 14-13.
But after regaining service, Hoyer-Larsen lost it when he hit a line drive into the net. Joko secured the championship when the Dane hit a drop shot into the net.
"I was making too many unforced errors," said Hoyer-Larsen, who was playing in his first tournament since the Olympics. "But I still have the speed that I need to go against the best in the world."
Chandra and Sigit also had to frustrate rallies in their first game. The Indonesians had a 10-5 lead when Yap and Cheah forced a 13-13 tie and a tie-breaking set.
The unranked pair then moved ahead 16-14 before the Malaysians tied the score at 16. But after regaining service, Sigit's drop shot and Chandra's line-drive winner gave the Indonesians the victory.
"We were a bit tired after last night," Cheah said about his team's three-game semifinal victory. "We lost our concentration after the first game."
Results
Men's singles: Joko Suprianto (Ina) bt Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen (Den) 15-13, 15-13
Women's singles: Mia Audina (Ina) bt Camilla Martin (Den) 11-5, 12-9
Men's doubles: Chandra Wijaya/Sigit (Ina) bt Yap Kim Hock/Cheah Soon Kit (Mal) 18-16, 15-10
Women's doubles: Rosiana Zelin/Eliza (Ina) bt Joanne Goode/Julie Bradbury (Gbr) 15-7, 15-5
Mixed doubles: Kim Dong Moon/Chung So Young (SKor) bt Chris Hunt (Gbr)/Helene Kirkegaard (Den) 15-5, 15-7