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