Joko conquers Ardy to win Grand Prix badminton finals
Joko conquers Ardy to win Grand Prix badminton finals
SINGAPORE (Agencies): Veteran Joko Suprianto conquered his
aging legs and a fitter and younger defending champion Ardy
Wiranata to win the men's singles title at the US$325,000 World
Grand Prix badminton finals here yesterday night.
In an all-Indonesian final, Joko drew on his wealth of
experience to emerge a 15-3, 6-15, 15-6 winner in a typically
gritty display at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Joko's win gave Indonesia its second title at the season-
ending tournament after Trikus Heryanto and Minarti Timur earned
a comfortable 15-8, 15-8 victory over surprising finalists Simon
Archer and Julie Bradbury of England in the mixed doubles earlier
on the day.
Malaysia denied Indonesia its third title when Cheah Soon Kit
and Yap Kim Hock came from behind to upset veteran team of Rudy
Gunawan and Bambang Suprianto in a nail biting three setter. It
was the Malaysian pair's first title of the season.
Indonesia won three titles last year through Hariyanto Arbi,
Susi Susanti and men's doubles team of Ricky Subagja and Rexy
Mainaky. Injuries forced women's singles Susi and the world team
champion skipped the year-end tournament.
Joko, who at 29 is the oldest player in the men's top 10,
found a timely second wind in the decider to down newly-wed Ardy,
25, for his second World Grand Prix finals crown.
He won his first by beating another compatriot, Hariyanto, in
Kuala Lumpur two years ago.
Singapore is a happy hunting ground for the Indonesian
veteran, who won the 1993 SEA Games gold medal and the Konica Cup
title here earlier this year, and defeated Malaysia's Rashid
Sidek in a seesaw semifinal on Saturday.
Joko tallied his title to four this year, with two of them won
in a non-grand prix event. He was seeded second behind reigning
world champion Hariyanto who was ousted by Sidek in their group
match.
China's Ye Zhaoying also struggled to beat Lim Xiaoqing of
Sweden to win the women's singles crown in badminton's richest
tournament.
The 21-year-old Ye won 12-10, 8-11, 11-8 in a hard-fought
final to avenge her Konica Cup defeat to the Chinese-born Swede
at the same venue five months ago.
The loss was a big disappointment to the 28-year-old Lim, who
came into the tournament after winning the All-England, Danish,
Chinese-Taipei, Thailand and Singapore titles and had been
hoping to round off the year in style.
Ye pocketed $16,250 for the victory.
China struck a second title through its women's doubles team
Ge Fei and Go Jun, who beat arch rivals and world champions Gil
Young-ah and Jang Hye-ock of South Korea 15-7, 15-12 in their
fourth successive final duel this year.
Results
Mixed doubles: Trikus Heryanto/Minarti Timur (Ina) bt Simon
Archer/Julie Bradbury (Eng) 15-8, 15-8
Women's singles: Ye Zhaoying (Chn) bt Lim Xiaoqing (Swe) 12-10,
8-11, 11-8
Men's singles: Joko Suprianto (Ina) bt Ardy Wiranata (Ina) 15-3,
6-15, 15-6
Women's doubles: Ge Fei/Go Jun (Chn) bt Gil Young-ah/Jang Hye-ock
(Kor) 15-7, 15-12
Men's doubles: Chean Soon Kit/Yap Kim Hock (Mas) bt Rudy Gunawan/
Bambang Suprianto (Ina) 13-18, 15-2, 15-12
Mia -- Page 11