Rony continues big step in Malaysia Open
Rony continues big step in Malaysia Open
JAKARTA (JP): Unseeded Rony Agustinus of Indonesia continued
his big step at the US$120,000 Malaysian Open badminton
championship by eliminating world champion and compatriot
Hendrawan 8-6, 7-2, 7-3 on Friday's quarterfinals.
"I was no contest to Rony as I failed to explore all my
skills. I was under pressure since the beginning and I found
troubles in adjusting with the new scoring system of the best of
five games in seven points," Hendrawan told The Jakarta Post by
phone.
"I was less faster than Rony today. I need three or four more
events to get used to the system."
Rony, the only Indonesian in the men's singles, will challenge
top seed Chen Hong of China, who cruised to the semifinals by
defeating Ng Wei of Hong Kong 7-4, 7-0, 7-4.
Seventh seed Xia Xuanze of China crushed South Korean young
star Lee Hyun-il 7-4, 7-1, 7-4 to meet eighth seed host Ong Ewe
Hock who squashed qualifier Lin Dan of China 7-0, 8-6 7-0.
Indonesia still has a chance to win the men's doubles title as
its two pairs managed to reach Saturday semifinals.
World champions and top seeds Tony Gunawan and Halim Heryanto
ousted sixth seeds Liu Yong and Chen Qiqiu of China 7-4, 7-5, 7-3
to meet fourth seeds Pramote Teerawiwatana and Tesana Panvisvas
of Thailand, who beat Ma Che Kong and Yau Kwun Yuen of Hong Kong
7-1, 7-1, 7-1.
Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto lost the first game 4-7 to
Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark of England before bouncing
back to take the rest three games 7-4, 8-6, 7-3, an official at
the Media Center at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam said.
They will face host duo of Chew Choon Eng and Chan Chong Ming,
who beat Albertus Susanto Njoto and Kwok Wa Liu of Hong Kong but
the score was not available.
Mixed doubles top seeds Bambang Suprianto and Emma Ermawati
retained the country's hopes after winning their quarter match
over Chinese Deng Chua Hai and Wei Yili 7-1, 4-7, 7-0, 7-5.
The Indonesians will meet fourth seeds Michael Lamp and Ann-
Lou Jorgensen of Indonesia, who overcame Indonesian newcomers
Hendra Gunawan and Novita 8-6, 7-0, 7-3.
Other national juniors Alven Yulianto and Eny Erlangga bowed
out to Chinese eighth seeds Liu Yong and Zhang Jiewen 3-7, 2-7,
7-5, 5-7.
The Chinese will see seventh seeds Nathan Robertson and Gail
Emms of England who upset second seeds Nova Widianto and Vita
Marissa of Indonesia 7-1, 7-4, 1-7, 8-6.
China dominated the women's singles by featuring three
semifinalist leaving Wang Chen of Hong Kong as the sole outsider.
Top seed Zhou Mi had a tough match over Thai sweetheart
Sujitra Eakmongkolpaisarn 7-3, 5-7, 3-7, 7-2, 7-0. Zhou is likely
able to reach Sunday's final as she will see junior Yu Jin, who
beat compatriot Hu Ting 7-4, 7-2, 7-4.
World champion Gong Ruina of China eliminated Kelly Morgan of
Wales 7-5, 4-7, 7-4, 7-2 to set up an encounter with Wang who
upset sixth seed Dai Yun of China 7-4, 8-6, 0-7, 8-6.
China has also secured a final berth in the women's doubles as
top seeds Gao Ling and Huang Sui will meet compatriots Zhang
Jiewen and Wei Yili. (nvn)