Taufik spearheads SGS run to quarterfinals

Taufik spearheads SGS run to quarterfinals

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post/Yogyakarta

Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat was in a league of his own as
he steered SGS Elektrik of Bandung to the quarterfinals of the
National Badminton Mixed Team Championship at the Amongrogo
Sports Hall here on Thursday.

Taufik chalked up an easy 15-6, 15-2 victory over Kabul Widodo
in 20 minutes in the men's singles as SGS crushed Pancing
Yogyakarta 5-0 in Group A.

The other seven groups were expected to wrap up their matches
either later on Wednesday evening or on Thursday.

It was SGS' third victory in its group, which includes Agape
Jakarta and Warna Agung of West Nusa Tenggara.

Former national player Yuli Marfuah conceded only three points
in her 11-1, 11-2 win over Intan in the women's singles.

Monica and Olivia Vidya blanked Desi Ayu and Fathonah Nuraeni
15-0, 15-0 in the women's doubles. Flandi Limpele and Lita
Nurlita in the mixed doubles also took it easy 15-4, 15-1 over
Indra Yulianto and Fathonah.

Hendra Gunawan and Yoga Uki Kasah rounded off SGS' rout with a
15-10, 15-3 win over Taufik Yusuf and Indra in the men's doubles.

The tournament, which will run until Saturday, features 33
clubs divided into eight groups, but Tadaluko Palu, which would
play in Group F, failed to appear.

"We have no information on their no-show. But we assume that
they have canceled their participation due to the earthquake
which hit parts of Central Sulawesi on Sunday," tournament
referee Juniarto Suhandinata told The Jakarta Post.

Only group winners qualify for the quarterfinals.

As Group A winner, SGS is likely to face Keshab Timur of East
Kalimantan, which collected its second win in Group B with a 4-1
drubbing of ICLI Gowata of South Sulawesi on Wednesday.

Djarum Kudus of Central Java, spearheaded by national player
Maria Kristin, moved closer to taking the next stage's berth
after it booked its second win, a 4-1 romp over Surya Baja of
East Java in Group C.

Its quarterfinal opponent will be either Sinema Sukabumi of
West Java or Arsikon Riau, both registering identical 5-0
victories over Pemda Jayapura of Papua and Hard Rock Hotel of
Bali respectively. Both will clash on Thursday to decide the
Group D winner.

Citra Raya Unesa is favorite to proceed to the quarterfinals
from Group E against the winner of Group F, which saw a reversal
of outcome in the match between Mutiara Bandung and Elang
Yogyakarta over a player eligibility dispute.

Bina Bangsa of Jakarta in Group G and Suryanaga Surabaya in
Group H moved a step closer to a clash in the quarterfinals.