RI targets three titles in HK Open

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.