Simon takes singles title at Milo Junior Open
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.