Johan and Taufik cruise to Singapore semis
Johan and Taufik cruise to Singapore semis
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Johan Hadikusuma and Taufik Hidayat
passed through Friday's Malaysia-dominated quarterfinals round of
the US$120,000 Sunrise-Yonex Singapore Open to set up semifinals
matches against two Malaysian shuttlers.
Taufik passed through Malaysian Sairul Amar Ayob quite easily
despite losing the second game to seal a 7-1, 1-7, 7-0, 7-0
victory.
The world's no. 5 Taufik will then see another Malaysian,
Muhammad Hafiz bin Hasim, who defeated Boonsak Polsana of
Thailand 3-7, 5-7, 7-1, 7-4, 7-1 as reported by
www.worldbadminton.net.
Earlier on Thursday's third-round match, Taufik had to work
hard before defeating Chen Yu of China 5-7, 7-4, 6-8, 8-6, 7-1;
Hasim also defeated Richard Vaughn of Wales 7-1, 7-2, 5-7, 7-1.
Meanwhile, second-stringer Johan showed an impressive
performance by also cruising to the semifinals stage.
Johan had to play all out before clearing Indonesian-born
Indra Wijaya, who is now playing for Singapore, 2-7, 8-6, 0-7, 7-
4, 7-1.
Johan will then see Malaysian Wong Choong Han, who prevented
Indonesia's automatic place in the final stage after defeating
2000 World Grand Prix Final runner-up Marlev Mainaky 7-3, 4-7, 7-
1, 7-2.
Meanwhile, Chinese shuttlers dominated the women's singles
semifinals by placing three players, leaving the fourth place to
Malaysian Ng Mee Fen, who defeated Indonesia's Yuli Marfuah 7-5,
7-0, 7-5.
Ng will challenge Zhang Ning, who defeated world's no.4
Camilla Martin of Denmark 2-7, 7-1, 7-5, 7-1.
In the other semifinals match, Dai Yun will challenge
compatriot Gong Zhichao who is seeded second in the event. Dai
easily crushed compatriot Tang Chunjue 7-3, 7-0, 7-0. Meanwhile
Gong lost the first game before easily crushing Japanese Kaori
Morii 5-7, 7-1, 7-1, 7-0.
Once again, Indonesia cleared the possibility of grabbing the
men's doubles title, sending Indonesian Open winners Candra
Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto and compatriots World Champions Tony
Gunawan and Halim Haryanto to the semifinals.
Top seeds Tony and Halim defeated Martin Lundgaard Hansen and
Lars Paaske of Denmark 5-7, 7-2, 7-1, 7-5 to see Pramote
Teerawiwatan and Tesana Panvisvas of Thailand. Pramote and Tesana
defeated Michael Logosz and Robert Mateusiak of Poland 7-0, 7-1,
5-7, 7-2.
In the lower leg, second seeds Indonesian Open winners Candra
and Sigit will then face Malaysian Chew Choon Eng and Chan Chong
Min after defeating Chinese Liu Yong Chen Qiqiu 7-4, 7-1, 7-5.
Meanwhile, the Malaysians outplayed the Danish pair of Jens
Eriksson and Jesper Larsen 7-4, 7-1, 7-4.
Indonesia also secured another semifinals berth in the women's
doubles after Eny Erlangga and Novita defeated Malaysian
Norhasikin Amin and Wong Pei Tty 8-6, 7-2, 7-4. The Indonesians
will then challenge top seeds Wei Yili and Zhang Jiewen of China.
In the lower leg, there is another Chinese pair of Zhang Yawen
and Zhaon Tingting who will face second seeds Rikke Olsen and
Helene Kirkegard.
In the mixed doubles event, Denmark's and China's pairs
occupied all the semifinals places.
World Grand Prix Final winners Jens Erikssen and Mette
Schjoldager of Denmark will see Chinese Chen Qiqiu and Chen Lin.
In the lower leg, Liu Yong and Zhang Jiewen will see second seeds
Michael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen. (nvn)