Joko, Susi retain Thai Open crowns

JAKARTA (JP): World champions Joko Suprianto and Susi Susanti maintained their supremacy at the Thailand Open badminton championships as Indonesian players romped home with four titles on Sunday.

Joko weathered Chinese young gun Sun Jun's initial storm to clinch his third straight win here 10-15, 15-11, 15-5. Susi more than made up for her Asian Games performance by taking the women's singles crown for a record fourth time after taming Sweden's Lim Xiaoqing 11-5, 12-10.

Indonesia's number three men's doubles team of Danny Kantono and Antonius showed their promising prowess by winning their second title within a month. They edged out the top seeded favorites Sakrapee Thongsari and Pramote Teerawiwatana 12-15, 15- 12, 17-16 in a nail-biting battle.

They won the men's doubles title in the German Open championships in mid October.

Tri Kushendarto and Minarti Timur ended years of drought by winning the mixed doubles with a 15-10, 15-12 victory over England's Nick Ponting and Joane Wright.

After beating second seed Hariyanto Arbi in the quarterfinals, Sun frustrated Joko's jumping smashes in the opening set. Sun, however, could not match Joko in composure or pace.

Susi displayed the same quick play against her rival, the unusual style cost her a 8-10 deficit in the second set. The world champion continued her winning streak over her old foe, thanks to Lim's wide returns in the last gasp.

All the Indonesian players, except Joko, will continue the Grand Prix tour of Asia in Hong Kong tomorrow. Susi, who has secured her place at the grand prix final next month, will only play doubles with Carmelita.

The final should be a repetition of last year, with a pack of Indonesian men qualifying for the US$300,000 tournament. Both Ardy Wiranata and Hariyanto have already made it, and Joko, Alan Budikusuma, Fung Permadi and Lioe Tiong Ping have a good chance to follow in their footsteps.

The International Badminton Federation announced on Sunday that Susi was the only Indonesian women assured a spot at the final. Yuliani Sentosa, who was dumped in the second round of the Thai Open, is struggling to make it to the Dec. 7 to 11 event. The last two grand prix tournaments in Hong Kong and China will decide her fate.

World number one men's doubles Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky were the first pair to book a place at the final. (amd)

Results of the Thailand Open (x-denotes seed):

Women's singles: 1-Susi Susanti (Ina) bt 2-Lim Xiao Qing (Swe) 11-5, 12-10

Men's singles: 1-Joko Suprianto (Ina) bt 5/8-Sun Jun (Chn) 10-15, 15-11, 15-5

Women's doubles: 1-Ge Fei/Gu Jun (Chn) bt 3/4-Joanne Wright/Julie Brabury (Eng) 15-12, 15-4

Men's doubles: 3/4-Deny Kantono/Antonius (Ina) bt 1-Sakrapee Thongsari/Pramote Teerawiwatana (Thai) 12-15, 15-12, 17-16

Mixed doubles: 1-Tri Kushendarto/Minarti Timur (Ina) bt Nick Ponting/Jeanne Wright (Eng) 15-10, 15-12