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)