Simon takes singles title at Milo Junior Open

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

Simon Santoso won the boys' singles title after Holvy De Pauw, the 2001 champion, retired during the finals of the US$10,000 Milo Junior Indonesia Open badminton championships at the Sudirman Sports Hall here on Saturday.

The players evened the score in the opening two sets before Simon was declared the winner after Holvy, who looked to have lost some stamina in the second set, failed to turn up because of cramps when the third set was about to start.

He can't continue the play because he is suffering cramps in some part of his body, national team coach Asep Suharno told reporters. He may be too tired, he added.

Holvy wrested the initiative with his diving smashes to take an early lead. But he then looked vulnerable against a typically resistant and patient opposition from Simon.

His poor stamina began to be exposed as he deliberately wasted time either walking around or taking a break to wipe away the perspiration. He was still able to fight back for a 15-13 win after he had trailed 10-13, but it was due mostly to an abrupt loss of concentration by his opponent.

The reigning champion's condition worsened in the second set, which Simon was able to exploit for his 15-7 win. Simon was ready on the court for the third set when the referee announced that a win had been awarded to him.

Asep was very concerned about his protege's weaknesses, saying that they would have to find a solution to the problem in the future.

Despite a win and an $800 winner's purse, Simon, who is a member of the Tangkas Bogasari Badminton Club, admitted to being a bit dissatisfied that he had not battled to the end. It would be a nice ending if the victory had come after we had completed the battle, he said.

Meanwhile, the home side's hopes of a title were dashed after Holly Yusiana Paulima, despite the support from the majority of spectators, put in a lackluster challenge in the girl's singles final match against Firdasari.

Holly was a non-seeded player but she had shown an impressive performance with three higher rated players on her victims' list, before she somehow lost her composure in the final, in which she was beaten 2-11, 4-11 by Firdasari.

I had my ball sent back so swiftly that I had no chance to develop my tactics, Holly said.

Firdasari, 16, said that her tactics worked well against Holly, who had proved to be good in defense.

"I know she had a good defense. That's why I came out first to pound her with the attacks," said Firda, who has now evened the score to 1-1 in their two meetings.

The national team grabbed two more titles as the mixed and boys' doubles featured finalists from among its ranks, but it fell short of adding another to the collection after Lilyana Natsir / Nathalia lost their girls' doubles match.

Joko Riyadi / Hendra Setiawan won the boys' doubles final 15- 8, 15-12 over Markis Kido / Rian Sukmawan, while the mixed doubles title went to Markis Kido / Lilyana Natsir with a 11-5, 9-11, 11-9 win over Hendra Setiawan / Devi Sukma Wijaya.

In the girls' doubles, Lilyana / Nathalia were beaten 9-11, 11-2, 3-11 by Meiliana / Purwati of Jarum Kudus.