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