RI women's singles crash in Malaysia

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta

Three Indonesian women's shuttlers were tripped up at the first hurdle at the 2004 Malaysia Open badminton championship, suffering first-round losses on Thursday.

Silvi Antarini, Maria Kristin and Firdasari were unable to make amends for their disappointing showing at the Uber Cup world badminton championship in Jakarta in May.

However, Asian champion Taufik Hidayat and runner-up Sony Dwi Kuncoro had no trouble in their men's singles matches.

In the women's draw, Silvi's defeat was particularly shocking. Facing the little-known Jiang Yanmei of Singapore, the Indonesian put up little resistance in losing 11-6, 11-1.

Maria Kristin had a more respectable performance against the more experienced Mia Audina Tjiptawan, the fourth seeded Indonesian-born shuttler who now plays for the Netherlands.

Maria stole the first game 11-3 but could not hold onto the momentum, losing the next two sets 11-3, 13-10.

In another match, Firdasari posed little competition for second seed Zhang Ning of China, who drubbed the Indonesia 11-9, 11-2.

"Silvi and Jiang are of equal strength, but Silvi looked to be rushing her game," Indonesian coach Ivana Lie told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Discussing Maria's defeat, Ivana said she was leading 9-3 in the third set but then became overly cautious and made a rash of mistakes.

In the men's singles, Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Taufik Hidayat both advanced to the quarterfinals. Sony defeated Agus Haryanto of Hong Kong 15-10, 15-7, while Taufik dispatched Anti Vitikko of Finland 15-10, 15-5.

However, not everything went Indonesia's way with Marleve Mainaky losing to Malaysia's Muhd Hafiz Hashim 15-8, 17-14.

Sony will next play Korean shuttler Park Sung-hwan, while Taufik will face Ronald Susilo of Hong Kong.

Indonesia's hopes in the men's doubles now rest on Luluk Hadiyanto and Alvent Yulianto, who beat the Malaysian pair of Gan Taik Chai and Koo Kien Kiat 15-9, 15-7.

Candra Wijaya and Flandy Limpele were beaten by Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah of Malaysia 15-11, 9-15, 15-0.

Sigit Budiarto and Tri Kusharjanto conceded their match against Sudket Prapakamol and Patapol Ngernsrisuk of Thailand.

Coach Aryono Miranat said Tri rushed home on Thursday to be with his wife, who was hospitalized with a serious illness.

Alvent and Luluk will face Daniel Shirley of New Zealand and Robert Blair of England in the quarterfinals.

In the women's doubles, Jo Novita and Lita Nurlita, and Lilyana Natsir and Greysia Polii advanced to the quarterfinals.