Joko, Susi retain Thai Open crowns

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