RI targets three titles in HK Open
Moch. N. Kurniawan The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
National players are expected to capture the men's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles crowns at next week's US$250,000 Hong Kong Badminton Championship, although they may meet familiar foes in latter rounds.
In the men's singles, national number one and fifth seeded Taufik Hidayat is drawn to meet top seed Lin Dan of China in the semifinals. Taufik's 3-2 head-to-head record against the world number one includes two victories this year and one loss, but one of the wins came in the World Championships final in Anaheim in August.
The Chinese player may face another Indonesian, Simon Santoso, or seventh seed Peter Gade of Denmark in the last eight of the six-star tournament.
In men's doubles, top seeded veteran Candra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto have a possible semifinal matchup against Fu Haifeng/Cai Yun, the fourth seeds from China, who beat them in the Sudirman Cup this year.
In the mixed doubles, world champions Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir are likely to meet the English pair of Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms, the fifth seeds, in the quarterfinals and the Chinese third seeds Zhang Jun and Gao Ling in the semifinals.
Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) national training subdivision head Lius Pongoh said on Monday the three-title target for the Oct. 31-Nov. 6 tournament was feasible.
"While Taufik will not face serious opponents in the early stages of the Hong Kong Open, Simon and Sony Dwi Kuncoro won't be as lucky."
Simon is expected to meet 2005 Indonesia Open winner Lee Hyun Ill of Korea in the second round, with Gade and Lin probable opponents in the next rounds.
"It will be hard for Simon, but he might give us a surprise," he said of the 20 year old, who upset Taufik at the Indonesia Open in September.
Sony, seeded 14th but who is still trying to recapture the form he displayed before foot surgery last year, is drawn to meet second seed Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark in the quarterfinals.
"His (Sony) problem is now to find his own rhythm because his power, speed and skills are the same as before the surgery ...," Lius said.
The recent mediocre results of men's doubles pair Luluk Hadiyanto and Alvent Yulianto, the third seeds in Hong Kong, are concern for the association.
"Luluk/Alvent have yet to win a title this year and their performance has declined. I hope the Hong Kong Open will not be a heavy burden for them," he said of the pair, ranked second in 2004.
Markis Kidho and Hendra Setiawan, the seventh seeds who beat Candra and Sigit for the Indonesia Open title, are drawn to meet veteran compatriots Flandy Limpele/Eng Hian in the second round and second seeds Jen Eriksen/Martin Hansen Lundgaard of Denmark in the quarterfinals.
"In mixed doubles, of course we have a great chance to win a title from world champions Nova/Lilyana," Lius said.