Indonesians sweep World Cup badminton championship singles
Indonesians sweep World Cup badminton championship singles
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (Agencies): Indonesia has lived up
to its billing as the world badminton dominators by taking all
the singles titles at the World Cup here yesterday.
All-England two-time winner Hariyanto Arbi won the men's crown
when his opponent, Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen of Denmark, withdrew
with a broken leg. In the women's singles, Susi Susanti
maintained her rule with a 12-9, 11-6 victory over South Korean
Bang Soo-hyun.
Making their first appearance after their memorable Uber Cup
win, the women's doubles pair of Lili Tampi and Finarsih joined
the triumphant by defeating world number one Chung Soo-young and
Gil Young-ah 15-11, 15-12.
Top men's doubles of Bambang Suprianto and Rudy Gunawan failed
to complete the clean sweep as they fell to Malaysia's Cheah Soon
Kit and Soo Beng Kiang 13-18, 15-2, 17-18 in a dramatic final.
The results, however, were more than a confidence booster for
the Indonesians, who are seeking all five titles at stake in this
week's grand prix tournament on home soil.
Hariyanto said he did not want to win the tournament that way.
"I expected a tough final, but I was confident I would win,"
said the world number three, who edged out teammate Ardy Wiranata
in Saturday's semifinals.
Stuer-Lauridsen, the top European in the tournament, pulled a
surprise victory over world champion Joko Suprianto in a rubber-
set match which lasted an hour on Saturday.
After reaching the finals, he broke his leg 10 minutes into
the first game, going for a drop shot from Hariyanto to his
right. He played on for another two serves from Hariyanto before
withdrawing with the score 9-7 to the Indonesian.
His compatriot Thomas Lund collected the runner-up's US$6,800
prize for him.
Hariyanto, for whom it was a third tournament victory this
year, took home $11,050.
Seventh victory
World and Olympic champion Susi controlled the game well
with flawless net play to neutralize the Korean's attacks, which
surprisingly toppled Ye Zhaoying of China on Saturday.
Susi has lost only twice to Bang in 12 encounters. The
Indonesian last beat the Korean in the All-England final last
April.
"The match was quite difficult for me," Susi said. "Bang is
very good on the attack, so I tried to give her more pressure."
It was her seventh victory in seven international tournaments
this year.
Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, Vietnam's chief economic
advisor and chairman of the national badminton federation,
presented Susi with her $8,500 prize.
Khai's presence underscored the importance Vietnam attached to
the World Cup, one of the biggest international sports events to
be staged in the country since the war ended in 1975.
Badminton is widely played in the streets and parks but
Vietnam has yet to develop players of international standard.
A total of $170,000 was at stake in the tournament, for which
a Danish brewery with an operation in Ho Chi Minh City was the
major sponsor.
Results
Men's singles: Hariyanto Arbi (Ina) bt Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen (Den) (Stuer-
Lauridsen withdrew injured with Hariyanto leading 9-7 in the
first game)
Women's singles: Susi Susanti (Ina) bt Bang Soo-hyun (SKo) 12-9, 11-6
Men's doubles: Cheah Soon Kit/Soo Beng Kiang (Mal) bt Bambang Suprianto/Rudy
Gunawan (Ina) 18-13, 2-15, 18-17
Women's doubles: Lili Tampi/Finarsih (Ina) bt Chung So-young/Gil Young-ah (South
Korea) 15-11, 15-12
Mixed doubles: Thomas Lund (Den)/Catrine Bengtsson (Swe) bt Chen Xing Dong/Gu
Jun (China) 10-15, 15-10, 15-2
Indonesia Open -- Page 12