Local shuttlers make clean sweep in Indonesia Open

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian shuttlers made a clean sweep in the US$170,000 Sanyo Indonesian Open finals at the Bung Karno Indoor Stadium on Sunday, taking full advantage of the absence of top Chinese, Danish and Malaysian players.

The last time Indonesia enjoyed a landslide victory was in the 1997 Indonesian Open in Surakarta, Central Java, also in the absence of Chinese players.

Men's singles player Marlev Mainaky ousted Malaysian Lee Tsuen Seng to claim what is only his second career title, adding to his 1993 U.S. Open victory.

Marlev quickly took charge of the first game, grabbing a 5-2 lead before Lee equalized 5-5 and then 6-6 in a furious game dominated by net play and rallies. Lee, however, eventually took the game 8-6.

Marlev struck back and won the last three games 7-5, 7-3, 7-3 to grab the title.

On the podium, the 29-year-old Indonesian received a check for US$13,600 in one hand while the other held his son Alweyn. Runner-up Lee -- reaching his second final, after the Swiss Open this year where he defeated Marlev in the semifinals -- pocketed $6,800.

"I lost the first game because Lee played very fast. But I managed to win by hitting him low shots and avoiding overheads," Marlev said.

Lee said: "My victory in the first game was a lucky one because Marlev didn't actually give me any chance to attack. He always bombarded me with low shots."

"I have to work more on my defense. Most of the time I could not maintain a consistent defense after launching an attack."

Women's singles top seed Wang Chen of Hong Kong had to swallow a bitter pill after she failed to grab the title in her second consecutive final at the event.

Wang, who lost to champion Camilla Martin of Denmark last year, was upset by unseeded Ellen Angelina of Indonesia 7-5, 7-3, 5-7, 7-4.

Ellen was $11,730 richer after the win, while Wang had to settle with second-place prize money of $5,610.

"I didn't expect to win the match today. I was just playing all out, without any burdens, and kept the game slow," said Ellen, who quit the Indonesian Badminton Center earlier this year.

"I lost the third game because Wang forced a fast game and then led 4-1 in the fourth game using the same strategy. But then I sent long lobs so that I had enough time to anticipate her returns as ordered by coach Liang Chiu Sia."

Ellen's victory was a slap in the face to the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI), whose women's singles shuttlers' could only reach the semifinals.

Second seed Lidya Djaelawidjaja, who beat Ellen in the 1999 Indonesia Open final in Bali, lost her semifinal to the eventual winner.

"I guess being an outsider allowed me to play freely because I didn't have any burden at all. Besides, Wang played emotionally and was frustrated after failing to speed up the game," Ellen said.

Surprise win

Unseeded players Deyana Lomban and Vita Marissa had a surprise victory, winning their first title in the Grand Prix series. The Indonesians upset eighth seeds Ann Lou Jorgensen and Jane Bramsen of Denmark 7-5, 7-5, 7-3 to claim the women's doubles title.

Keke, as Deyana is better known, and Vita pocketed $10,370, while Jorgensen and Bramsen won $6,800 before hurriedly leaving for Soekarno Hatta International Airport to catch their 5:30 p.m. flight home.

"I was too eager to win the title quickly, causing me to lose my composure. Jorgensen and Bramsen have a good offensive game," Keke told a post-match conference.

Keke and Vita were only paired one week before the Malaysian Open and had never played in any tournaments before. Vita partnered Emma Ermawati in the Malaysian Open and Nova Widhianto in the mixed doubles.

Unfortunately, Vita failed to fulfill her dream of also taking the mixed doubles title after she and Nova bowed out to seniors Tri Kusheryanto and Emma 5-7, 1-7, 7-2, 1-7 in an all-Indonesian final.

Tri and Emma won $10,370 and the runners-up received $6,800.

Second seeds Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto cruised to victory after ousting world champions Tony Gunawan and Halim Heryanto 7-2, 7-3, 7-5.

Candra and Sigit won $12,240 while Tony and Halim shared the $6,800 second-place prize. (nvn)