RI hopes remain in World Junior C'ships

RI hopes remain in World Junior C'ships

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's hopes of seeing its shuttlers in the
semifinals of the World Badminton Junior Championships for the
Bimantara Cups in Guangzhou, China, remains as boys singles Sony
Dwi Kuncoro survived his way to Saturday's semis.

Other Indonesian semifinalists are among the boys doubles and
mixed doubles. Host China ensured a title in the girls doubles as
it created an all-Chinese semifinals.

Fifth seeded Sony came from behind to upset second seed Zhu
Weilun of China 7-3, 3-7, 7-2, 7-1. Earlier in the third round,
Sony beat China's Du Wei in what was nearly a one-hour match.

Unfortunately, compatriot Ardi Ardiansah had to bow out to
ninth seed Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia 7-2, 7-0, 7-4. Lee will meet
Sony in the semifinals.

Another semifinal will feature an all-Chinese match between
top seed Lin Dan and Bao Chunlai. Lin had to sweat to defeat
teammate Xuan Chuan 8-6, 5-7, 7-5, 7-2 while fourth seed Bao
bounced back to defeat sixth seed Jakrapan Thanathiratham of
Thailand 5-7, 4-7, 7-3, 7-1, 7-3.

In the boys doubles, Indonesian pair of Hendra A. Gunawan and
Markis Kidho ousted fifth seeds Tan Chin Lee and Tan Bin Shen of
Malaysia 7-2, 7-4, 7-5.

The Indonesian duo will challenge top seeds Sang Yang and
Zheng Bo of China, who beat seventh seeds Lee Jae-jin and Chung
Jae-sung of South Korea 7-1, 7-3, 8-6.

The other semi will see Sun Qi and Jiang Lai of China facing
teammates Xie Zhongbo and Cao Chen.

Indonesia still has one hope remaining in the mixed doubles as
fifth seeds Hendra A. Gunawan and Lita Nurlita survived their
tough test against third seeds Zhang Weihong and Zhao Tingting of
China. Hendra and Lita finally took the semis berth after winning
7-5, 3-7, 7-5, 1-7, 7-5.

The Indonesians will face second seeds Sang Yang and Zhang
Yawen of China, who beat Thailand's Monwat Thuwanimitkul/Sathinee
Chankrachangwong 7-5, 7-1, 7-0.

Another semifinal match will see top seeds Zheng Bo and Wei
Yili of China facing South Korea's sixth seeds Lee Jae-jin/Hwang
Yu-mi.

In the women's singles event, first seed Yu Jin beat
compatriot Li Wenyan 2-7, 1-7, 7-5, 7-1, 7-4, second seed Wei Yan
beat teammate Ma Songfeng 7-0, 8-6, 7-3, while third seed Wang
Rong beat another Chinese Guo Xin 6-8, 7-4, 2-7, 7-1, 7-5.

Another semifinalist is Yu-Chin Chien from Chinese Taipei, who
beat Chinese Zhu Lin 7-5, 7-2, 8-7. (nvn)