Joko meets Ardy in Grand Prix final

Joko meets Ardy in Grand Prix final

SINGAPORE (AFP): Indonesians Joko Suprianto and Ardy Wiranata tamed their Malaysian opponents in the last four yesterday to enter the final of the US$325,000 Grand Prix badminton tournament here.

World Cup champion Joko beat Ong Ewe Hock 15-8, 15-11 while defending champion Ardy staved off an early challenge by Commonwealth champion Rashid Sidek to win 18-17, 15-7.

The final will be held today.

Malaysia salvaged some pride as their doubles pair of Cheah Soon Kit and Yan Kim Hock booked a berth for the final showdown.

They breezed past compatriots Soo Beng Kiang and Tan Kim Her 15-3, 15-2 in the semifinals to take on last year's losing finalists Rudy Gunawan and Bambang Suprianto of Indonesia.

The Indonesians downed Danish pair J.H.Christensen and Thomas Lund 15-9, 17-15.

In a women's singles semifinal encounter, China's Ye Zhao Ying demolished Denmark's Camilla Martin 11-1, 11-2, earning the right to meet Sweden's Chinese-born Lim Xiao Qing in the final.

Lim beat Wang Chen of China 11-6, 11-2 in the other semifinal clash.

In the women's doubles, the final battle will be between China's Ge Fei and Gu Jun and South Koreans Gil Young-Ah and Jang Hye-ock.

The Chinese pair beat their counterparts Qin Yiyuan and Tang Yong Shu 15-7, 15-9 while the Koreans bundled out England's Julie Bradbury and Joanne Wright 15-6, 15-8.

Results

Men's singles: Joko Suprianto (Ina) beat Ong Ewe Hock (Mas) 15-8, 15-11 Ardy Wiranata (Ina) bt Rashid Side (Mas) 18-17, 15-7

Women's singles: Lim Xiao Qing (Swe) bt Wang Chen (Chn) 11-6, 11-2 Ye Zhao Ying (Chn) bt Camilla Martin (Den) 11-1, 11-2

Men's doubles: Cheah Soon Kit/Yanp Kim Hock (Mas) bt Soo Beng Kiang/Tan Kim Her (Mas) 15-3, 15-2 Rudy Gunawan/Bambang Suprianto (Ina) bt J.H.Christensen/Thomas Lund (Den) 15-9, 17-15

Women's doubles: Ge Fei/Gu Jun (Chn) bt Qin Yiyuan/Tang Yong Shu (Chn) 15-7,15-9 Gil Young-ah/Jang Hye-ock (Kor) bt Julie Bradbury/Joanne Wright (Eng) 15-6,15-8.