Mia books place in semifinal but Ardi loses

By Primastuti Handayani

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Open champion Ardy Wiranata's clings to a slim chance of making the men's singles semifinals of the 1997 Sanyo World Cup Badminton Championship, but compatriot Mia Audina flirted with danger before reaching the final four of the women's tournament yesterday.

Ardy put up a fight but it was not enough against World Championship runner-up Sun Jun of China as he lost 7-15, 9-15 at the Among Rogo sports hall.

"Sun played better than I did and I made many unforced errors, particularly at the end of each game," Ardy said after the match. "I tried to force the rallies but sometimes I lost control.

"Sun tried to rush the net play at the end of second game and I played hesitantly."

Ardy and Sun are tied 2-2 in head-to-head meetings.

"I realize I have a small chance, but I just hope that Sun loses to Soren Nielsen tomorrow," Ardy laughed.

Ardy will meet Tam Kai Chuen of Hong Kong today. If Sun loses to the Dane and Ardy beats Tam, the Indonesian will make the semifinals under the round-robin system.

Mia started out slowly and lost 8-11 to Kim Ji-hyun of South Korea in the first game. She trailed 0-6 in the second but fought back to win by an identical score. Supported by an estimated 2,500 spectators, Mia raced through the final game 11-4.

Coach Retno Kustiyah attributed Mia's loss of the first game to her match being moved forward after Briton Darren Hall scratched against Malaysian Ong Ewe Hock with an upset stomach.

"Mia lost in the first game because she did not have enough time to warm up. During the second game break, when Kim was leading 6-0, I told her to keep thinking about her mother," Retno said.

Mia's ailing mother is undergoing medical treatment.

Mia said she is tied 4-4 in meetings with the Korean.

Mia meets old nemesis Ye Zhaoying of China or compatriot Meiluawati in the semifinals tomorrow.

Kim rued her missed chances. "I was too tired and I made many mistakes. I'm very sad because I had a chance to win but Mia played better."

Indonesian Joko Suprianto made it to the men's final after beating Luo Yigang of China 15-8, 15-9.

Joko led 8-2 in the first game but the Chinese player edged back to 8-10. It was all in vain as Joko swept the next five points.

Both shuttlers played more carefully in the second game marked by long rallies but experience came through as Joko won.

"I'm in good condition but sometimes I lose my concentration due to a cough which I've had for the past three weeks," Joko said. "I found it disturbing during the long rallies. Fortunately, there's the break at 8 points which really helped me to recover.

"After point 8 in each game, Luo took the offensive while I didn't speed up my playing," he added.

Joko will meet Indian Gopichand, who upset Luo on Wednesday. Gopichand is acquiring a reputation as a giant-killer after beating Alan Budikusuma, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist, at the All England in March.

"I never met Gopichand but I think he has the same type of play as me. I'll try to find the best strategy to beat him tomorrow," he said.

Indonesia's young hope Indra Wijaya was at his best with leaping smashes against Jeroen van Dijk of the Netherlands.

Indra, the Singapore Open finalist, had to muster all his energy to win 15-13, 17-15.

Indra lost the first eight points of the match but recouped after the 8-point rest. Indra equaled the score at 13-13 and took the next two points for the game.

Indra needed only one point for the match at 14-9 but a string of errors allowed the Dutchman back into the match with deuce at 14-14.

As the spectators cheered him on, Indra eked out the win.

Indra next faces Dong Jiong of China, who beat Martin Lundgaard Hansen of Denmark 15-2, 15-5, for a spot in the semifinals.

"First, I have to be sure that I can beat Dong again like I did at the Grand Prix Finals in Bali last year," he said.

Results

Men's singles: Dong Jiong (Chn) v Martin Lundgaard Hansen (Den) 15-2, 15-5 Joko Suprianto (Ina) v Luo Yigang (Chn) 15-8, 15-9 Sun Jun (Chn) v Ardy Wiranata (Ina) 15-7, 15-9 Indra Wijaya (Ina) v Jeroen van Dijk (Ned) 15-13, 17-15 Tam Kai Chuen (Hkg) v Soren B Nielsen (Den) 8-15, 15-7, 15-9 Ong Ewe Hock (Mal) v Darren Hall (Gbr) WO Gopichand (Ind) v Thomas Johansson (Swe)15-7, 15-17, 15-3 Hariyanto Arbi (Ina) v Hwang Sun-ho (Kor) 15-7, 15-8

Women's singles: Mia Audina (Ina) v Kim Ji-hyun (Kor) 8-11, 11-8, 11-4 Meiluawati (Ina) v Takako Ida (Jpn) 11-7, 11-2 Gong Zhichao (Chn) v Lee Joo-hyun (Kor) 11-3, 11-1 Wang Chen (Chn) v Judith Meulendijks (Ned) 11-6 11-2

Men's doubles: Ricky Subagdja/Rexy Mainaky (Ina) v Andreij Antropov/Nikolaj Zuev (Rus) 15-9, 15-3 Sigit Budiarto/Candra Wijaya (Ina) v Peter Axelsson/Par Gunnar Johnsson (Swe) 15-7, 10-15, 15-8 Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah (Mal) v Tao Xiaoqiang/Ge Cheng (Chn) 15-9, 15-9

Women's doubles: Elysa/Zelin Resiana (Ina) v Chen Li-chin/Tsai Hui-min (Tpe) 15-5, 15-9 Indarti Issoliana/Finarsih (Ina) v Nicola Beck/Joanne Davies (Gbr) 15-5, 15-5

Mixed doubles: Liu Yong/Ge Fei (Chn) v Imam Tohari/Emma Ermawati (Ina) 15-10, 15-10 Tri Kusherjanto/Minarti Timur (Ina) v Michael Keck/Erica van den Heuvel (Ger/Ned) 15-2, 9-15, 15-5