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