Susi, Alan repeat Olympic glory

Susi, Alan repeat Olympic glory

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Indonesian shuttlers and love-birds Alan
Budikusuma and Susi Susanti repeated their three-year-old fairy-
tale triumph at the Barcelona Olympics by winning the men and
women's singles titles in the Malaysian Open here Sunday.

"We are happy to achieve another double here, which we want to
repeat at the Atlanta Olympics," said Alan after he beat
compatriot Ardy Wiranata 10-5, 10-8 and Susi downed South Korean
Bang Soo-hyun 11-1, 11-6 for the top honors in the Open.

Thailand's Pramote Teerawiwatana and Sakrapee Thongsari took
the men's doubles title after being stretched 5-15, 15-12, 15-5
by Malaysians Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock.

England's Julie Bradbury and Joanne Wright won the women's
doubles by ousting South Korea's Gil Young-ah and Jang Hye-ock
15-10, 15-11.

Alan and Susi, who plan to marry after the Atlanta Olympics,
both had a head-start in their games.

Alan attacked aggressively and wrapped up play in 34 minutes
while Susanti dismissed Bang in about 20 minutes.

"Ardy was not playing with any confidence and he was making
too many mistakes," said the 27-year-old Kusuma, who won a purse
of US$14,000.

Ardy drew at five points in the first set before Alan raced
ahead to finish in 13 minutes. Kusuma was up 10-2 in the second
set when Wiranata fought back to collect another six points
before conceding defeat in 19 minutes.

Susi gave away a single point to Bang in the first set, which
ended in about eight minutes. A draft in the stadium troubled
Susi in the second set and she trailed until 4-6 before clawing
her way back to win in 12 minutes.

"I managed to read her game very well and forced her to make
mistakes," said Susi, who collected a purse of $8,000.

Final results

Men's singles
Alan Budikusuma (Ina) bt Ardy Wiranata (Ina) 15-5, 15-8

Women's singles
Susi Susanti (Ina) bt Bang Soo-hyun (Kor) 11-1, 11-6

Men's doubles
Pramote Teerawiwatana/Sakrapee Thongsari (Tha) bt Cheah Soon
Kit/Yap Kim Hock (Mas) 5-15, 15-12, 15-5

Women's doubles
Julie Bradbury/Joanne Wright (Eng) bt Gil Young Ah/Jang Hye-ock
(Kor) 15-10, 15-11