RI shuttlers shine in men's and mixed doubles

By Primastuti Handayani

JAKARTA (JP): The Sanyo World Cup Badminton Championship will see two all-Indonesian finals in the men's and mixed doubles finals today at Senayan Indoor Stadium.

The newly formed partnerships of Rexy Mainaky/Sigit Budiarto in men's doubles and Minarti Timur/Sandiarto in mixed doubles beat their opponents in yesterday's semifinals. Juniors Antonius and Denny Kantono and Flandy Limpele and Risyeu Rosalina now advance to the finals challenge against their seniors.

Rexy and Sigit, paired together after Ricky was injured, had to stretch their muscles after defeating Russian duo Andreij Antropov and Nikolaj Suev 9-15, 15-3, 15-3.

In the first set, Rexy and Sigit, mostly Sigit, made numerous unforced errors and allowed the Russians to win 15-9.

In the second and third set, Rexy and Sigit fought from behind to end the match 15-3, 15-3.

Antonius and Denny also had to stretch before eliminating Olympic silver medalists Cheah Soon Kit/Yap Kim Hock of Malaysia 15-11, 3-15, 15-13.

Minarti and Sandiarto had to work hard before defeating Michael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen of Denmark 15-6, 13-15, 15-8.

Sogaard and Olsen beat Minarti and Trikus Heryanto last week in the final match of the Grand Prix Finals.

"I never thought we would make it through the finals because I didn't have much preparation," Sandiarto said.

Sandiarto found out that he would be paired with Minarti on Wednesday morning, only a few hours before his first match.

Minarti and Sandiarto face Flandy and Risyeu, who beat the partnership of Chen Xingdong and Qin Yiyuan 15-9, 15-9.

Chen's partner Peng Xingyong was prohibited from entering Indonesia because of visa problems.

In women's doubles, two Chinese duos have reached the finals.

Olympic gold medalists Ge Fei and Gu Jun beat Kim Mee-hyang and Kim Shin-young of South Korea 15-2, 15-4, while Qin Yiyuan and Yang Yongshu defeated Indonesia's Eliza and Zelin Resiana 15- 9, 15-3. Qin and Yang are opposing Ge and Gu.

Hot temper

Darren Hall of Great Britain may be penalized by the International Badminton Federation for throwing down his racket, which hit The Jakarta Post photographer, Oka Budhi Yogaswara, and broke his tooth.

"I was disappointed after I lost to Jeffer. I apologize to the photographer," Hall said.

Jeff Robson, one of the federation's honorary referees, said that the accident was unfortunate.

"He didn't try to hit the man deliberately, he was just throwing his racket. He was very disappointed after coming so close to winning," Robson said.

"Personally, I think it was very foolish," he added.

Robson said that he will first have to report the incident to the federation.

"The IBF will make the decision. There is a possibility of some action being taken against the player. But the IBF doesn't have a written regulation on the matter," he said.

Robson said that he had never seen anything like it during his career as a referee.

Results

Men's singles: Jeffer Rosobin (Ina) v Darren Hall (Gbr) 9-15, 17-14, 15-12 Dong Jiong (Chn) v Park Sung-woo (Kor) 17-14, 15-2

Women's singles: Susi Susanti (Ina) v Ye Zhaoying (Chn) 11-2, 6-11, 11-2 Wang Chen (Chn) v Mia Audina (Ina) 11-9, 3-11, 11-7

Men's doubles: Antonius/Denny Kantono (Ina) v Cheah Soon Kit/Yap Kim Hock (Mal) 15-11, 3-15, 15-13 Rexy Mainaky/Sigit Budiarto (Ina) v Andreij Antropov/Nikolaj Zuev (Rus) 15-9, 15-13

Women's doubles: Ge Fei/Gu Jun (Chn) v Kim Mee-hyang/Kim Shin-young (Kor) 15-2, 15-4 Qin Yiyuan/Tang Yongshu (Chn) v Eliza/Zelin Resiana (Ina) 15-9, 15-3

Mixed doubles: Sandiarto/Minarti Timur (Ina) v Michael Sogaard/Rikke Olsen (Den) 15-6, 13-15, 15-8 Flandy Limpele/Risyeu Rosalina (Ina) v Chen Xingdong/Qin Yiyuan (Chn) 15-9, 15-13