RI shuttlers to quarters except Anggun and Dewi
RI shuttlers to quarters except Anggun and Dewi
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian juniors managed to reach the
quarterfinals of the World Badminton Junior Championships for the
Bimantara Cups in Guangzhou, China, on Wednesday but boys singles
seventh seed Anggun Nugroho and girls singles Dewi Tira had to
make an early exit.
Anggun, who had an easy victory over Egor Ursatii of Moldova
in Tuesday's second round 7-0, 7-0, 7-0, had to bow out to
Chinese Xuan Chuan 7-2, 2-7, 0-7, 2-7 in the third round. Xuan
reached the third round after beating Vasin Nilyoke of Thailand
7-5, 7-1, 7-2.
Xuan will meet Russian Sergei Ivlev Thursday after having a
surprise win over 15th seed Rune Ulsing of Denmark.
Team manager Yacob Rusdianto said in his fax that Xuan was
stronger and played better than Anggun.
"It was a tough match but the Chinese player was much better
than Anggun. Besides, Anggun is not really expected to win in the
championships. We hope Sony (Dwi Kuncoro) and Ardi (Ardiansyah)
will be able to reach the final four."
Sony had to sweat out to eliminate Thiraya Laohathamongko of
Thailand 7-8, 7-0, 7-1, 7-3 on Tuesday evening to reach the third
round. On Wednesday he had to pump out his energy to overcome
Joachim Nordh of Sweden 8-7, 7-3, 7-3.
Ardi also had to fight hard to overcome Sheng-Ming Chin of
Chinese Taipei 7-8, 7-1, 7-0, 7-3 Tuesday for a third round
berth. Ardi survived another test as he managed to upset 10th
seed Jang Young-soo of South Korea 7-2, 7-2, 4-7, 7-5 to reach
the quarters.
Taufik Hidayat (not the world number five Taufik Hidayat who
is competing at the Ipoh Masters in Malaysia) also managed to
reach the quarters. Taufik was downed 0-7 in the first game
before he managed to trail back in the remaining three games
before winning 7-2, 7-4, 7-4 over Jens-Kristian Leth of Denmark.
Earlier on Tuesday, Taufik beat Gijs van Heijster of the
Netherlands 8-7, 7-4, 5-7, 7-3 while Leth beat Zin Latt of
Myanmar 7-2, 7-5, 7-1.
Top seed Lin Dan, the 17-year-old Asian junior champion
from Nanjing, Jiangsu province in China, disposed Jan
Junker of Germany 7-3, 7-3, 7-0 on Wednesday.
Lin will meet unseeded Japanese Kohei Hayasaka, who upset
11st seed Hong Seung-ki of South Korea in straight sets.
"I had a comfortable win today but the next match will be
tougher," said Lin, as quoted by Xinhuanet.com.
In the girls singles, Silvi Antarini also reached the
quarterfinals after comfortably beating Tatjana Bibik of Russia
7-2, 7-0, 7-0. Silvi defeated Mie Nielsen of Denmark 7-2, 8-6, 7-
5 on Tuesday.
Mona Santoso -- who has been with the Indonesian Badminton
Center for nearly one year -- also reached the quarters after
struggling to overcome Perrine Lebuhanic of France 7-2, 6-8, 7-3,
7-0. Mona reached the third round after beating Susan Hughes of
Canada 0-7, 7-1, 7-2, 7-1.
Unfortunately, teammate Dewi Tira had to bow out to Petra
Overzier of Germany 2-7, 0-7, 4-7.
Yacob expressed his concern over Dewi's defeat.
"Dewi's defeat is a warning for the Badminton Association of
Indonesia (PBSI) to start giving more attention to European
players as their younger generation have shown their skills in
the championships."
Girls singles top seed Yu Jin brushed aside Trupi Murgunde of
India 7-1, 7-2, 7-4 to lead the top four seeds, all from China,
through the third round.
Following the withdrawal of seventh-seeded Malaysian Ng Mee
Fen and 10th seed Marika Hirooka of Japan on Tuesday, seven
other seeded players in the girls singles were eliminated,
including sixth seed Jun Jae-youn of South Korea. (yan)