Susi, Hariyanto Arbi win Japan Open tournament

Susi, Hariyanto Arbi win Japan Open tournament

TOKYO (Agencies): Susi Susanti and Hariyanto Arbi reinforced
Indonesia's domination of the sport, winning the women's and
men's singles titles at the US$125,000 Japan Open badminton
championships yesterday.

Olympic and world champion Susi, who demolished Bang Soo-hyun
in the Barcelona final three years ago, repeated her excellent
performance with an 11-7, 12-11 victory over the South Korean
silver medalist.

Hariyanto -- the 1993 champion here -- who eliminated the
biggest obstacle beating fellow Indonesian Ardy Wiranata in the
semifinals Saturday, went on charging to regain the men's singles
title with a 15-8, 15-8 success over Joko Suprianto in an all-
Indonesian final.

It was Hariyanto's second title in a row this year, and the
23-year-old native of Kudus, Central Java is now eying an All-
England hat trick. A maturing Hariyanto, nicknamed the Jumping
Jack, will now lead Indonesia to keep its contention for Olympic
men's singles laurel.

Indonesia also captured the men's doubles trophy with Ricky
Subagja and Rexy Mainaky beating teammates Bambang Suprianto and
Gunawan 11-8, 11-9, but failed to make it a perfect victory
losing the women's doubles and mixed doubles titles.

Ricky won his second successive title here. He formed a
triumphant team with Danny Kantono last year.

Finarsih and Lily Tampi crashed to China's Ge Fei and Gu Jun
11-15, 8-15 in the women's doubles final, and Trikus Heryanto and
Minarti Timur bowed to Thomas Lund and Marlene Thomsen of Denmark
4-15, 17-14, 10-15.

"Europe has a good tradition coming with the mixed doubles.
Some Asian players are trying to get to the top, but at the
moment, we are number one," said Lund.

Since being forced to drop out of the semi-finals of last
year's Japan Open, because of an injury to Lund, the couple have
captured seven titles, including the Singapore Open, Grand Prix
Final and last week's Korea Open before winning the $5,000 prize
here.

"The Olympic Games in Atlanta is one of our main goals.
Obviously we both play the ladies' and men's doubles, but of
course, we hope to qualify for the Atlanta Olympics," added Lund.

The mixed doubles will become an Olympic event for the first
time in Atlanta.

Invincible

Winning fourth straight title in the last three months, Susi
looks invincible to stretch her reign over badminton world and a
possible second Olympic victory next year.

"There's no place higher than where I am right now. In the
first half of this year, I may keep the top place with Bang,"
said Susi.

"But I'm expecting tough challenges from Ra Kyung-Min, Mia
Audina, Han Jingna and Camilla Martin coming up soon," she added.

After a perfect first game for Susi, Bang had a chance to even
the match having five game points at 11-10 and 11-11 while saving
two match points against her. But Susi never surrendered the
game.

Bang saved the first match point thanks to Susi's forehand
that went wide, and erased another with her forehand attack at
the net. But her overhead drop shot landed in the net on the
third, suffering her 14th defeat against two wins to the
opponent.

Bang has never defeated Susi since her victory in the final
here two years ago.