Jaya Raya wins Inter-Club C'ship

By Novan Iman Santosa

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan (JP): Top seed and favorite Jaya Raya fulfilled its ambition to take over the crown from Djarum Kudus of Central Java by winning 3-1 in the Inter-club National Badminton Championship at the Hasanuddin HM Sport Hall on Saturday.

Jaya Raya's mixed doubles Bambang Supriyanto and Indarti Issoliana opened the path to victory by silencing Djarum Kudus' Sigit Budiarto and Minarti Timur 15-12, 17-14 in the first match.

Lidya Djaelawidjaja contributed the second point after she managed to use her skills and controlled the women's singles match against Ellen Angelina to win 11-6, 11-1.

"I played without any burden today especially in the mixed doubles win. If they had lost earlier, I could have played under pressure," Lidya told reporters after the match.

Being downed 0-2 made Djarum men's singles player Johan Hadikusuma perform outstandingly. However, he had to extend himself before eliminating Jaya Raya's junior Taufik Hidayat 17- 15, 15-10.

About 3,000 spectators failed to hide their disappointment knowing that the Jaya Raya junior was not the same teen-idol Taufik Hidayat as they had expected. The world ranked five Taufik had flown back to Jakarta after his club Sangkuriang Graha Sarana of Bandung crashed in the semifinals.

Jaya Raya sealed its victory thanks to Olympics gold medalists Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan who easily overpowered Antonius and Eng Hian 15-3, 15-6.

The women's doubles match between Jaya Raya's Deyana Lomban and Indarti and Etty Tantri and Minarti of Djarum Kudus was not featured as it was no longer decisive.

Jaya Raya coach Retno Kustiyah pointed at Lidya's success in her team's victory.

"With Lidya's win, we secured two important points because we had predicted losing one point in the men's singles."

Junior results

In the Junior Individual Championships, staged in conjunction with the event, East Kalimantan shuttlers broke the domination of Java-based players by grabbing the boys doubles title through their Bandung-based pair of Yusuf Ahmad and Robby Istantio.

Yusuf and Robby defeated Yan Pieter and Tri Heru of Jakarta 17-16, 15-12.

"The Jakarta pair have more power but lack speed which we took advantage of," Yusuf told reporters after the match. "We had full concentration on the match because we have met them earlier so we knew their type of game."

East Kalimantan coach Iskandar said the winning pair's physical fitness was not up to the national championships.

"While in Bandung they were given more technical and skills training but less physical drills so we worked on their physical stamina only three weeks prior to the event."

Another East Kalimantan's pair of Yusuf and Fermy Keintjem failed to make another victory as they bowed out 9-15, 9-15 before West Java's Hendra and Lina Marlina in mixed doubles match.

Jakartans Dewi Sukma and Rani Mundiasih took the girls doubles title after ousting West Java's Monika and Lita Nurlita 15-1, 15- 10.

"Monika and Lita didn't have warm up enough before the first game so they lost easily. But in the second game they gave their best fight," West Java's coach Nara Sudjana said.

Second seeded Ardiansyah of Jakarta pumped out his energy to topple boys singles top seed Sonny Dwi Kuncoro of East Java, the 2000 World Championships finalist and Asian Championships finalist, 15-11, 2-15, 15-4.

"I have warned Sonny that he and Ardiansyah have a similar attacking style so he must be careful with his smashes. Sonny must also improve his defense," East Java's coach Aji Santoso said.

The girls singles title went to Central Javanese Dian Novita who defeated teammate Maria Christine 11-8, 11-5.