Top seed shuttlers crash on first day of GP Finals
Top seed shuttlers crash on first day of GP Finals
By Primastuti Handayani
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Top seeds Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen of
Denmark and China's Dong Jiong surprisingly crashed against
little-known opponents on the opening day of the round-robin
matches in the Lipton World Grand Prix Badminton Finals here
yesterday.
Rising Indonesian star Indra Wijaya stole a bit of the thunder
when he gunned down China's number one Dong 15-12 15-5 in a match
spoiled by a leaking roof during a thunder storm outside the
Juana Mandala Stadium.
The leak took its toll on defending champion and Indonesia's
top player, Joko Suprianto, who injured his right thigh when he
stepped on a wet patch in the deciding set against Chen Gang.
Joko lost 11-15 in the first set but fought back and
came-from-behind to win the second set 17-14. He finished the
delayed third set 15-9. Heavy rain then forced the organizers to
halt proceedings for two hours.
Joko told The Jakarta Post after the match that if the injury
has not healed by today he would withdraw from the tournament.
Olympic gold medalist Hoyer-Larsen lost to Chinese Hu Zhilan
13-15, 15-12, 15-18.
From the onset Hoyer-Larsen failed to perform his usual
mesmerizing technical skills against Hu in the US$350,000 annual
event. He often lost control of the shuttle and made many
unforced errors. Hu, on the other hand, was able to control the
shuttle throughout.
"I know that I didn't play well today but I'll try my best
tomorrow to achieve a better result," Hoyer-Larsen said.
In the second set, the 31-year-old Dane fought from behind to
win the set 15-12. But he failed to capitalize on his chances in
the deciding set and lost it 15-18.
Strong wind
But Hoyer-Larsen said the strong wind in the stadium was not
the reason for his loss.
"Everybody has to deal with the wind," he said.
The 31-year-old Dane's next opponent is rookie Budi Santoso of
Indonesia, finalist in the 1996 Indonesia Open.
Hu said: "I won today because Poul-Erik played bad. I know
that he rarely practiced after the Olympics. I'm not very proud
with it," he said.
Hu is to meet Alan Budikusuma, the 1992 Olympic gold
medalist, today.
"Alan is a favorite player at home, it'll be hard to beat him.
But I've never played against Budi, so my chance will be 50-50,"
he commented.
Dong said that his performance was not very good because it
was his first match.
"Besides, the Indonesian shuttler played very well and he was
very strong," Dong said.
Indra said that he was very surprised that he won the match so
easily.
"Dong's performance was not very good and I put him under
pressure as told to by coaches Triaji and Tong Sin Fu," said the
23-year-old player.
Indra complained that the wind gave him trouble in controlling
the shuttle.
Selected results:
Men's singles:
Dong Jiong (Chn) v Indra Wijaya (Ina) 12-15, 5-15
Alan Budikusuma (Ina) v Budi Santoso (Ina) 6-15, 15-7, 15-10
Poul-Erik H-Larsen (Den) v Hu Zhilan (Chn) 13-15, 15-12, 15-18
Rashid Sidek (Mas) v Soren B Nielsen (Den) 15-10, 15-1
Ong Ewe Hock (Mas) v T Stuer-Lauridsen (Den) 12-15, 15-11, 15-4
Joko Suprianto (Ina) bt Chen Gang (Chn) 11-15 17-14 15-9
Women's singles:
Mia Audina (Ina) v Christina Gandrup (Swe) 11-3, 11-1
Ye Zhaoying (Chn) v Yao Yan (Chn) 11-7, 11-1
Wang Chen (Chn) v Lidya Djaelawidjaya (Ina) 11-1, 13-11
Men's doubles:
Cheah Soon Kit/Yap Kim Hock (Mas) v Peter Axelsson/Par-Gunnar
Jonsson 15-12, 6-15, 15-5
Women's doubles:
Eliza/Zelin Rosiana (Ina) v Helene Kirkegaard/Rikke Olsen (Den)
15-12, 15-6
Ge Fei/Gu Jun (Chn) v Nicola Beck/Joanne Davies (Gbr) 15-4, 15-0
Mixed doubles:
Flandy Limpele/Risyeu Rosalina (Ina) v Nick Ponting/Joanne Goode
(Gbr) 10-15, 8-15
By Primastuti Handayani
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Top seeds Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen of
Denmark and China's Dong Jiong surprisingly crashed against
little-known opponents on the opening day of the round-robin
matches in the Lipton World Grand Prix Badminton Finals here
yesterday.
Rising Indonesian star Indra Wijaya stole a bit of the thunder
when he gunned down China's number one Dong 15-12 15-5 in a match
spoiled by a leaking roof during a thunder storm outside the
Juana Mandala Stadium.
The leak took its toll on defending champion and Indonesia's
top player, Joko Suprianto, who injured his right thigh when he
stepped on a wet patch in the deciding set against Chen Gang.
Joko lost 11-15 in the first set but fought back and
came-from-behind to win the second set 17-14. He finished the
delayed third set 15-9. Heavy rain then forced the organizers to
halt proceedings for two hours.
Joko told The Jakarta Post after the match that if the injury
has not healed by today he would withdraw from the tournament.
Olympic gold medalist Hoyer-Larsen lost to Chinese Hu Zhilan
13-15, 15-12, 15-18.
From the onset Hoyer-Larsen failed to perform his usual
mesmerizing technical skills against Hu in the US$350,000 annual
event. He often lost control of the shuttle and made many
unforced errors. Hu, on the other hand, was able to control the
shuttle throughout.
"I know that I didn't play well today but I'll try my best
tomorrow to achieve a better result," Hoyer-Larsen said.
In the second set, the 31-year-old Dane fought from behind to
win the set 15-12. But he failed to capitalize on his chances in
the deciding set and lost it 15-18.
Strong wind
But Hoyer-Larsen said the strong wind in the stadium was not
the reason for his loss.
"Everybody has to deal with the wind," he said.
The 31-year-old Dane's next opponent is rookie Budi Santoso of
Indonesia, finalist in the 1996 Indonesia Open.
Hu said: "I won today because Poul-Erik played bad. I know
that he rarely practiced after the Olympics. I'm not very proud
with it," he said.
Hu is to meet Alan Budikusuma, the 1992 Olympic gold
medalist, today.
"Alan is a favorite player at home, it'll be hard to beat him.
But I've never played against Budi, so my chance will be 50-50,"
he commented.
Dong said that his performance was not very good because it
was his first match.
"Besides, the Indonesian shuttler played very well and he was
very strong," Dong said.
Indra said that he was very surprised that he won the match so
easily.
"Dong's performance was not very good and I put him under
pressure as told to by coaches Triaji and Tong Sin Fu," said the
23-year-old player.
Indra complained that the wind gave him trouble in controlling
the shuttle.
Selected results:
Men's singles:
Dong Jiong (Chn) v Indra Wijaya (Ina) 12-15, 5-15
Alan Budikusuma (Ina) v Budi Santoso (Ina) 6-15, 15-7, 15-10
Poul-Erik H-Larsen (Den) v Hu Zhilan (Chn) 13-15, 15-12, 15-18
Rashid Sidek (Mas) v Soren B Nielsen (Den) 15-10, 15-1
Ong Ewe Hock (Mas) v T Stuer-Lauridsen (Den) 12-15, 15-11, 15-4
Joko Suprianto (Ina) bt Chen Gang (Chn) 11-15 17-14 15-9
Women's singles:
Mia Audina (Ina) v Christina Gandrup (Swe) 11-3, 11-1
Ye Zhaoying (Chn) v Yao Yan (Chn) 11-7, 11-1
Wang Chen (Chn) v Lidya Djaelawidjaya (Ina) 11-1, 13-11
Men's doubles:
Cheah Soon Kit/Yap Kim Hock (Mas) v Peter Axelsson/Par-Gunnar
Jonsson 15-12, 6-15, 15-5
Women's doubles:
Eliza/Zelin Rosiana (Ina) v Helene Kirkegaard/Rikke Olsen (Den)
15-12, 15-6
Ge Fei/Gu Jun (Chn) v Nicola Beck/Joanne Davies (Gbr) 15-4, 15-0
Mixed doubles:
Flandy Limpele/Risyeu Rosalina (Ina) v Nick Ponting/Joanne Goode
(Gbr) 10-15, 8-15