Marlev, Tony/Halim reach Korean Open quarterfinals

Marlev, Tony/Halim reach Korean Open quarterfinals

JAKARTA (JP): Most of the Indonesian badminton players here
were reduced to being spectators after bowing out in the
US$250,000 Samsung Korea Open third round at the Hanra Gymnasium
on Cheju Island, South Korea.

Only men's singles old hand Marlev Mainaky, sixth seed here,
and unseeded men's doubles Tony Gunawan and Halim Heryanto
survived the tests.

Marlev set up a quarterfinals encounter with 2000 All England
winner Xia Xuanze of China after crushing Rasmus Wengberg of
Sweden 15-8, 15-4 Thursday.

"I played very well today and I was in a very good mood. I
managed to dominate Rasmus who made so many unforced errors.
Besides, he was not very patient in dealing with my game," Marlev
told The Jakarta Post in a telephone interview.

"About tomorrow's match, I realize that it will be harder to
fight Xia as he is younger, faster and stronger than I am.
Besides, it's going to be our first meeting. I have to play more
aggressively and attack him first. His defense is also perfect.
Let's just wait and see how I can handle him tomorrow. What
matters to me is both my legs are really tired," he said with a
laugh.

Tony told the Post that he was lucky to have competed in the
Copenhagen Masters at the end of December which served as a warm
up for reuniting with Halim Heryanto.

"By competing in Copenhagen we had a chance to adjust to each
other as sometimes in critical points I forget I have Halim
instead of Candra (Wijaya) as my partner."

Tony and Halim defeated Simon Archer and Nathan Robertson but
Tony failed to recall the score. The Indonesians will go on to
challenge second seeds Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong-sung.

" Halim and I have never met them but we will play our best."

Top seeds Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian crashed out to Michael
Lamp and Jonas Rasmussen 15-13, 13-15, 15-27.

"We blacked out on the court. We couldn't think and we were
very slow. I never thought that I would lose to the Danish pair
as they are not very special. We made too many unforced errors,"
Eng Hian said, adding that he would not blame his defeat on lack
of preparation.

"Our defeat here warned Flandy and myself to prepare ourselves
better especially in facing into the All England, Swiss Open and
World Grand Prix Finals."

Seventh seeds Candra and Sigit Budiarto, who have been under
the spotlight since their reunion at the event, were unexpectedly
upset by Michael Sogaard and Jim Laugesen of Denmark 12-15, 12-
15.

"I never even thought of losing so soon, especially to the
Danish pair. We had a lack of preparation and it's our first
tournament together after the Thomas Cup in May."

"The Danish pair played really well and fast today. They have
changed a lot and they are getting much better now."

Indonesian shuttlers in the women's singles, women's doubles
and mixed doubles also crashed out at the event. (yan)