Sony, Taufik go through to semifinals

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia's Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Taufik Hidayat, finalists in the last two years, marched to the semifinals at the Asian Badminton Championship in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

Reigning champion Sony beat 2003 All England champion Mohd Hafiz Hashim of Malaysia 17-14, 15-7 while Taufik brushed aside Ng Wei of Hong Kong 15-5, 15-10 in the quarterfinals, according to the tournament's website.

The Indonesians met in the finals in Jakarta last year and Bangkok in 2002, on both occasions Sony prevailed over his more experienced teammate.

Indonesia also had a strong showing in the men's doubles with its three pairs marching through to the semifinals at the expense of their South Korean opponents.

Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian beat Lee Jae-jin/Hwang Ji-man 15- 9, 15-8. Candra Wijaya and Halim Haryanto, who will part at the next Thomas Cup championship, showed they were still a dangerous pair in their defeat of Yim Bang-eun and Kim Yong-hyun 15-10, 15- 8.

Sigit Budiarto and Tri Kusharjanto, who will also be ending their partnership, did not have to swing rackets, taking the win by default over Ha Tae-kwon and Jung Jae-sung.

While the men's wins might boost Indonesia's prospects at the Thomas Cup, Indonesia's female contenders all fell out of the tournament, thus dampening their hopes in Uber Cup.

Last year's finalist Silvi Antarini was thrashed 11-4, 11-1 by Jun Jae-youn of South Korea.

Maria Kristin and Adrianti Firdasari also had to pack their bags, going down to Chen Lanting of China 11-9, 11-9 and Kaori Mori of Japan 11-9, 11-2.