Jeffer and Susi cruise to World Cup finals

Jeffer and Susi cruise to World Cup finals

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian rookie Jeffer Rosobin and national
badminton queen Susi Susanti cruised to the finals of the Sanyo
World Cup Badminton Championship winning their semifinals matches
here yesterday.

"Giantkiller" Jeffer overcame old hand Darren Hall of Great
Britain 9-15, 17-14, 15-12 while Susi defeated Ye Zhaoying of
China 11-2, 6-11, 11-2.

The 20-year-old Jeffer made many unforced errors in the first
set allowing the Briton to lead 12-4.

But Jeffer, winner of the Asia Cup in Surabaya in July, fought
to 9-12 before Hall finished the set 15-9.

"I was carried away by his playing style. His strokes were
much better than mine," Jeffer told a post-match conference.

In the second set, Hall took the lead 11-3 but Jeffer fought-
from-behind to 8-11.

Hall took control of the ball to lead 14-11 but spoiled all
when the bird hit the net giving the serve to his opponent.

Jeffer, who moved to the attack, took the chance to equalize
the score 14-14. Jeffer played more patiently leading Hall to
make three unforced errors in a row before concluding the set 17-
14.

"I should have won. I was very disappointed with the call at
14-12, I was 100 percent sure the ball was in both times but the
linesmen said they were out," Hall said.

In the deciding set, Jeffer, who usually plays defensively,
attacked more as he led 14-5, match point.

But as he rushed to end the match, he lost patience and made
many unforced errors giving Hall the chance to move to 12-14.

Jeffer, a semifinalist at the Indonesia Open in Medan, North
Sumatra in August, did not waste his serve and after a long rally
ended the match 15-12 as Hall's stroke hit the net.

Jeffer challenges Dong Jiong of China in today's finals, which
are scheduled to be aired by private-owned Indosiar TV channel
from 7.30 p.m.

Dong beat Park Sung-woo of South Korea 17-14, 15-2.

"I have never met Dong before but I think tomorrow's finals
will be tough. Dong has a completely different style of playing.
I'll just try my best," Jeffer said.

Susi, this year's Olympic bronze medalist and the 1992 Olympic
gold medalist, had to stretch her muscles before overcoming Ye.

Susi led the first set 11-2. But in the second set Ye
dominated with her rallies and strokes forcing Susi to lose 6-11.

Experience saved Susi as she fought-from-behind to take the
third set 11-2. Susi will face Wang Chen of China in the finals.

Wang beat Indonesia's young hope Mia Audina 11-9, 3-11, 11-7
burying the country's dream to have an all-Indonesian-finals in
the women's singles.

"I don't understand why the linesman said my two strokes were
out. I was sure they were in," Mia complained.

"I became very careful because I was afraid my strokes would
be out again," said Mia, who was supported by nearly 2,000
spectators.

Coach Retno Kustiyah said Mia should have forced herself to
attack and played quicker balls.

"She lost to Wang twice in five meetings. She lost her speed
because of playing slowly," Retno said. (yan)