Indonesian shuttlers go to Asian Games semifinals
Indonesian shuttlers go to Asian Games semifinals
BANGKOK (JP): Badminton powerhouse Indonesia received some
early scares but regained its winning form to crush Hong Kong 5-0
in the men's team quarterfinals at the Asian Games on Wednesday.
Indonesia's first two singles players, Hendrawan and Taufik
Hidayat, each dropped an early set, later blaming the
competition's organizers for not allowing them time to become
accustomed to the court, located in the sports complex of
Thammasat University.
"I haven't played here before, and unfortunately I did not
have enough time to get used to the venue," world number five
Hendrawan said after his 12-15, 15-4, 15-2 win.
Indonesia training center director Christian Hadinata, who
looked unimpressed by the way his ace players handled their
matches, said he regretted the Bangkok Asian Games Organizing
Committee's (BAGOC) decision not to allow all of the
participating teams time to practice at the venue.
"I don't know what the restriction is for, but it has never
happened in any other competition. We filed a complaint but the
BAGOC persisted," said Christian, a former badminton great in
doubles.
Christian said the Hong Kong team had the advantage of playing
more matches than third seeded Indonesia, which received a first-
round bye.
Hendrawan got off to an error-ridden start, hitting numerous
wide returns and feeding flat shots to his opponent, who thanked
him for the favors with smashes.
In the second singles match, Taufik beat Liu Kwok-Wa 15-5, 11-
15, 15-6 in 40 minutes, before Hong Kong Open champion Budi
Santoso settled the issue with an easy 15-7, 15-5 win over Ng
Wei.
Indonesia's new doubles team of Candra Wijaya and Tony
Gunawan, also winners in Hong Kong, had no trouble overcoming
Chow Kin-Man and Yau Kwun Yuen 15-6, 15-1.
The world number one doubles team of Ricky Subagja and Rexy
Mainaky displayed an almost flawless game as they beat Ma Che-
Kong and Liu Kwon-Wa 15-7, 15-4 to complete the drubbing.
Defending champion Indonesia will meet archrival Malaysia in
Thursday's semifinals. Malaysia beat Chinese Taipei 4-1 in their
quarterfinals match.
In the women's team competition, top seeded China, powered by
its world-class players, thrashed Hong Kong 5-0.
World number one Ye Zhaoying defeated Ling Wan-Ting, who
staged a surprising comeback in the second set, before losing 11-
1, 13-10. China's number two singles player, Gong Zhichao, beat
Ng Ching 11-5, 11-1, and China's number three singles player,
Zhang Ning, trounced Koon Wai-Chee 11-5, 11-0 to give China an
unbeatable 3-0 lead.
In the doubles, world number two Qin Yiyuan and Tang Hetian
beat Tung Chau-Man and Chan Mei-Mei 15-2, 15-3, while world
number one Ge Fei and Gu Jun easily defeated Ling Wang-Ting and
Koon Wai-Chee 15-2, 15-6.
In the semifinals, China will play Japan, which beat host
Thailand 4-1 on Wednesday.
The other semifinal match will pit Indonesia against South
Korea. (yan)