Lidya, Johan, Ronny crash out of Danish Open

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian seeds Lidya Djaelawidjaja, Johan Hadikusuma and Ronny Agustinus unexpectedly crashed out of the US$120,000 Danish Open in Vejle, Denmark.

Lidya, the Indonesia Open winner and sixth seeded here, bowed out to qualifier Sun Jian of China 13-11, 11-6 in the women's singles first round on Thursday morning. While in the men's singles, Johan lost to Chinese Xiao Hui 15-12, 15-12 on Wednesday evening.

None of the Indonesian players or coaches were available to comment on the loss.

Women's singles player Cindana Hartono beat Justine Wilmott of England 11-0, 11-7 to reach the four-star tournament's second round. Fifth seeded Cindana will now face qualifier Tang Chunyu of China. Tang repeated her success by beating Mia Audina, who represents the Netherlands, 13-12, 11-4. In the Dutch Open two weeks ago, Tang also beat Mia in the final.

Unseeded Ellen Angelina survived the first round after eliminating Neelima Choudhary of India 11-4, 11-7. Ellen will meet Mette Sorensen of Denmark, who barely sweated winning 11-6, 11-0 over Elena Hozdran of Ukraine.

Johan, who also crashed out of the German Open second round last week, bowed out 12-15, 12-15 to Xiao Hui of China. Sixteen seeded Ronny also lost to Ji Xinpeng of China 11-15, 8-15.

Third seeded Taufik Hidayat survived the second round after beating Keita Masuda of Japan 15-6, 15-4. Earlier in the day, the Indonesia Open champion eliminated Ville Kinnunen of Finland 15- 12, 15-6.

Taufik will challenge Yong Hock Kim of Malaysia, who beat Martin Delfs of Denmark 15-3, 15-7.

Fourth seeded Hariyanto Arbi had to work hard to reach the third round by overwhelming Xia Xuanze of China 11-15, 15-11, 15- 8. In the first round, Hariyanto eliminated Abhinn Shyam Gupta of India 11-15, 17-15, 15-9.

Hari, who sparked controversy due to his plan to move to Singapore, will meet towering Swede Thomas Johansson, who beat Jeroen van Dijk of the Netherlands 15-9, 4-15, 15-7.

Newly wed Marlev Mainaky, seventh seeded here, survived the second round after beating Nikbil Kanetkar of India 15-10, 15-13 after overcoming Peter Janum of Denmark 15-10, 9-15, 15-8 in the first round. (yan)