Sony beats Hong to set up all-Indonesian final

Associated Press, Bangkok

Indonesia's Sony Dwi Kuncoro stunned World No. 1 Chen Hong of China 15-5, 15-1 on Saturday to set up a title clash against compatriot Taufik Hidayat in the men's singles final of the JVC Asian Badminton Championships.

In the women's singles, Zhang Ning of China toppled Hong Kong's second-seed Wang Chen to make it an all-Chinese final against Zhou Mi.

Playing at the Nimibutr Gymnasium, the unseeded Sony continued his exceptional form in the semifinals clash against the 22-year- old Chen, who had hoped to win his fourth title this year.

The Chinese ace, who has won the All-England, Singapore and Denmark Opens titles, made a shaky start to trail Sony 5-12 before losing the opening game 5-15.

Chen made a gallant fightback in the second game but couldn't keep pace with the up-and-coming Indonesian's bullet-like smashes.

Taufik, who captured the gold medal at last month's Busan Asian Games, played superbly to foil top-seed and defending champion Xia Xuanze 15-2, 15-12.

In the women's singles semifinal, top seed and Busan Asian Games gold medalist Zhou barely broke sweat to crush Singaporean Xiao Luxi 11-0, 11-1.

She will meet defending champ Zhang, the third seed and Korea Open champion who stunned second seed Chinese-born Wang Chen of Hong Kong 11-2, 11-4.

In the men's doubles semifinals, top seed Ha Tae-kwon and Kim Dong-moon of South Korea survived a strong challenge from Indonesians Halim Heryanto and Tri Kusharjanto to win 15-6, 15- 12.

The Koreans will play the final on Sunday against another Indonesian duo of Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto, who pulled off a scintillating 17-16, 15-7 victory over Thailand's Pramote Theerawiwat and Thessana Phanvissawat.

World champions Gao Ling and Huang Sui of China lived up to their number-one seeding in the women's doubles, thrashing teammates Wei Yili and Zhao Tingting 11-5, 11-1.

They will clash in the final with compatriots Zhong Jiewen and Yang Wei, who on Saturday overpowered Thais second seeds Saralee Thungthongkham and Sathinee Chankrajangwong 11-6, 11-2.

In the mixed doubles final, world and Sydney Olympics champion Gao Ling and Zhang Jun of China extinguished Thailand's dreams of taking the first-ever Asian title by powering past top seeds Khunakorn Suddhisodhi and Saralee Thungthongkham in straight games 11-7, 11-8.