RI shuttlers reach quarters

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's men's singles shuttler managed to reach the quarterfinals of the US$120,000 V6 Danish Open in Vejle, Denmark, but Indonesia's women's singles had to pack up early as they lost in the quarterfinals on Thursday evening.

Third seeded Taufik Hidayat barely sweated during his match which sent home Malaysian Yong Hock Kin 15-6, 15-2 to secure a quarterfinals berth against the 1996 Olympic gold medalist Poul- Erik Hoyer-Larsen of Denmark, who beat Chinese Dong Jiong 15-8, 15-8.

Senior Hariyanto Arbi, fourth seeded in the four-star tournament, also cruised into the next round after working hard to overwhelm 14th seeded Thomas Johansson of Sweden 15-9, 14-17, 15-3. Hariyanto will meet young Malaysian star Wong Choon Han, the 1999 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games silver medalist. Wong had to pump up his energy to beat the 1997 World Champion Peter Rasmussen of Denmark 15-10, 2-15, 15-8.

Seventh seeded Marlev Mainaky knocked out Martin Hagberg of Sweden 15-12, 15-6. The newly wed shuttler is expected to repeat his success in overcoming second seeded Peter Gade Christensen of Denmark. Gade Christensen, the 1999 All England champion, eliminated Ji Xinpeng of China 15-9, 15-3.

Top seeded Sun Jun of China, who beat Kyri Aalto of Finland 15-12, 15-6, will meet 10th seeded Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark, who upset sixth seeded Ong Ewe Hock of Malaysia 15-6, 15-8.

In the women's singles, fifth seeded Cindana Hartono was knocked out by qualifier Tang Chunyu of China, the Dutch Open champion, 7-11, 5-11.

Tang, who also beat former Indonesian player Mia Audina in the first round here, will challenge World Champion Camilla Martin of Denmark, who gave a free lesson to Chia-Chi Huang 11-4, 11-2.

Indonesian Ellen Angelina failed to contest eighth seeded Mette Sorensen of Denmark, the 1999 World Championships semifinalist, and lost 11-8, 9-11, 3-11. Sorensen will challenge second seeded Gong Ruina of China, who beat Kelly Morgan of Wales 11-9, 11-9.

Top seeded Dai Yun of China easily defeated Sandra Watt of Scotland 11-2 11-1. She will face Japanese Yasuko Mizui, who beat Brenda Beenhakker of the Netherlands 11-8, 11-1. (yan)