Top seed Taufik beats Sun, Hashim

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian teen idol Taufik Hidayat made a giant stride on Thursday at the US$150,000 Proton-Eon Malaysia Open at Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam, Malaysia, after overwhelming Sun Jun of China and Roslin Hashim of Malaysia.

Nineteen-year-old Taufik beat the 1999 world champion Sun 15- 11, 15-13 in 54 minutes. Later in the afternoon the top seed Indonesian overcame Hashim 15-13, 15-13.

He will meet Chen Hong of China in Friday's quarterfinals. Chen beat Park Tae-sang of South Korea 15-3, 15-8.

Second seed Xia Xuanze of China defeated Bjoern Joppien of Germany 15-9, 15-4 to set up a quarters meeting with Japanese Keita Masuda. Keita had to struggle to eliminate Indra Wijaya, a former Indonesian playing for Singapore, 15-2, 3-15, 15-10.

Indonesia only managed to put its number one women's singles Lidya Djaelawidjaja in the third round after eliminating Koon Wai Chee of Hong Kong 13-11, 11-2. On Wednesday, Lidya survived her first test to overcome 1998 Asian Games gold medalist Kanako Yonekura of Japan 8-11, 11-4, 11-7.

Unfortunately, the two other singles of Yuli Marfuah and Niniek Masrikah bowed out in the second round. Yuli, who had to worked hard to defeat fifth seed Lee Kyung-won of South Korea, lost to Japanese old hand Takako Ida 4-11, 13-12, 8-11.

Junior Niniek tried to struggle in her meeting with world number four Dai Yun of China but bowed out 6-11, 11-13.

Malaysian second stringers Chew Choon Eng and Chan Chong Ming created the biggest upset in the men's doubles by beating top seeds and world number two Kim Dong-moon and Ha Tae-kwon of South Korea 17-14, 15-10 on Wednesday. The Malaysians continued their advance by beating Chinese Yu Jinhao and Chen Qiqiu 15-13, 15-3.

They will face Indonesia's biggest hope, Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian, currently world number 10. The Indonesians beat the twin brothers of Hendri and Wandri Saputra of Singapore 15-12, 15-5.

The new Indonesian partnership of Candra Wijaya and Antonius overcame the host duo of Cheah Soon Kit and Ng Kean Kok 15-4, 15- 7.

But teammates Bambang Suprianto and Tri Kusharyanto bowed out to Malaysian Olympic qualifiers Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah 8-15, 15-7, 3-15.

Indonesia's new partnership of Carmelita and Deyana Lomban defeated Wang Chen and Ling Wan Ting of Hong Kong 15-9, 15-9. But the Indonesians will face the world number one pair of Ge Fei and Gu Jun of China in the second round.

Teammates Etty Tantri and Cynthia Tuwankotta, world number eight, also reached the next round after defeating Sandra Watt and Gao Yuan of Scotland 15-8, 17-15.

But seniors Minarti Timur and Zelin Resiana failed in their opening match, losing to world number six Qin Yiyuan and Gao Ling of China 4-15, 4-15.

In the mixed doubles, three Indonesian pairs managed to reach the second round. Tri and Minarti beat Chan Chong Ming and Joanna Quay of Malaysia 15-10, 15-2. Bambang and Zelin defeated Chen Qiqiu and Chen Lin of China 17-14, 15-5 while juniors Nova Widhianto and Upi Chrisnawati beat Malaysians Mohd. Zakry and Au Jen Yee 15-11, 15-6. (yan)