Joko leads Indonesian shuttlers to Malaysia
Joko leads Indonesian shuttlers to Malaysia
JAKARTA (JP): World men's singles number one Joko Suprianto
spearheaded Indonesia past the first hurdle at the US$180,000
Malaysia Open badminton championships in Johor Baru yesterday.
Top seed Joko, hoping to avenge his lackluster showing last
month at the Asia Cup in Beijing, put on a clinic in routing Shih
Yang Nan of Chinese Taipei 15-1, 15-2.
Title holder Ardy Wiranata lived up to his billing by ousting
home favorite Tey Seu Bock 15-2, 15-3 to earn a second round
berth.
Olympic gold medalist Alan Budikusuma, who was not included in
Indonesia's triumphant Thomas Cup squad last May, thrashed
Malaysian second stringer Lim Theau Teon 15-2, 15-2.
Indonesia's show of force continued as joint third seed
Hermawan Susanto failed to break a sweat en route to overpowering
Lau Patrick Kim of Singapore 15-5, 15-1.
No less than 400 shuttlers from 16 countries joined the July
6-10 event, the fourth stop on the world badminton grand prix
series in Asia.
Indonesian second stringer Lioe Tiong Ping overcame a stiff
challenge from Malaysian Yong Hock Kim before settling down to a
15-9, 15-5 win.
Two of Indonesia's junior players followed in the footsteps of
their superiors, with Nunung Subandoro earning a 15-2, 15-1
victory over Calt Dean of New Zealand, and Hendrawan downing
Thailand's Koetsriphant 15-6, 15-3.
But Rajev Bagga and Michael Tedjakusuma became the first
Indonesian second string casualties. Rajev lost to Malaysian Pang
Chen 2-15, 15-18 and Michael gave up 10-15, 4-15 to Thailand's
lefthander Sompol Kukasemkij.
Sarwendah
Indonesia's former number two women's singles player Sarwendah
Kusumawardani began her comeback after missing a full season with
an injury with a hard-earned three set win in the ladies doubles.
The pair of Sarwendah and veteran Rosiana Tendean outlasted the
Danish partnership of Rikke Olsen and Helene Kirkegaard 9-15, 15-
12, 15-12.
Sarwendah suffered a knee injury that later required surgery
during her Open quarterfinal match last year.
The junior couple of Sri Untari and Dede Hasanah couldn't take
the pressure of their first international outing, crashing to
Sweden's Maria Bengtsson and Erica Heuvel of the Netherlands 9-
15, 10-15.
Indonesia missed the All-England men's singles title-holder
Hariyanto Arbi and the world women's number two doubles team of
Lili Tampi and Finarsih. The absentees are scheduled to take part
in the World Cup invitational championships in Vietnam at the end
of this month.
The national ace shuttlers will directly leave for Singapore
after this championships, before playing on their home turf at
the Aug. 10-14 event. (amd)