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)