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)