Sony, Taufik advance in Malaysian Open

Sony, Taufik advance in Malaysian Open

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta

Indonesia top men's singles shuttlers Sony Dwi Kuncoro and
Taufik Hidayat advanced easily on Wednesday to the next round of
the 2004 Malaysia Open badminton championship in Kuantan.

Sony beat Malaysian second qualifier Zairul Hafiz Zainuddin
15-2, 15-3 while Taufik lost only four points in his 15-3, 15-1
drubbing of Malaysian Lok Chong Chieh.

Sony will face Agus Haryanto of Hong Kong in the next round on
Thursday. Taufik, the 2004 Asian champion, will be challenged by
Antti Vitikko of Finland.

Indonesia's other players, Marleve Mainaky and Wiempie
Mahardi, had mixed fares. Marleve had to work hard, but still
made it through over Anders Boesen of Denmark with 12-15, 15-1,
15-10 while Wiempie lost to veteran Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia 17-
14, 15-3.

Marleve's next opponent is Malaysian ace Muhd Hafiz Hashim.

In the women's singles, Silvi Antarini is scheduled to play on
Thursday against Jiang Yanmei of Singapore, in which the
Indonesian, according to coach Ivana Lie, should be able to round
off her win.

Ivana told The Jakarta Post that Silvi was the only protege to
have a good chance of advancing to the next stage in the
championship, given that her compatriots would face tougher
opponents.

Adrianti Firdasari, who defeated Thai shuttler Soratja
Chansrisukot 11-7, 11-2 in qualification, will play second-seeded
Zhang Ning of China.

Maria Kristin, who has been promoted to the main draw, must
tackle former Indonesian star and fourth-seeded Mia Audina
Tjiptawan, currently playing for the Netherlands.

In the mixed doubles, Indonesian shuttlers triumphed over
their Malaysian opponents, with Nova Widhianto and Vita Marissa
beating Koo Kien Keat and Mooi Hing Yau 15-8, 15-3 and Anggun
Nugroho and Eny Widiowati defeating Gan Taik Chai and Fong Chen
Yen 15-10, 3-15, 15-7.