Upset, triumph for Hadiyudo at Kosgoro Cup

JAKARTA (JP): National top paddler Hadiyudo fell and fell hard on his way to the Asian Games table tennis competitions, dropping a match to Chinese rival Qin Zhijian at the Kosgoro Cup final.

Hadiyudo, who will form the backbone of national table tennis squad for the continent's biggest sporting event, was edged out in straight sets 18-21, 13-21, 17-21 for the runner-up spot.

The upset on Sunday came just after Hadiyudo stole the show in the semifinals earlier on Saturday when he breezed past red-hot favorite and world number 29 Wang Hao of China 21-12, 21-11, 21- 12.

Sunday's final was an anti-climax for Hadiyudo who looked troubled with Qin's left-handed grip throughout the game. The Chinese player's devastating serve and smash tamed Hadiyudo's uphill challenge.

The Indonesian, who played for the Samarinda, East Kalimantan- based Pupuk Kaltim club, found some consolation afterward as he took the men's doubles crown with Al Arkam from Surya table tennis club, Kediri, East Java.

The home pair smashed their way to a 13-21, 21-19, 21-14 win over China's doubles of Qin and Wang. This was the only title grabbed by local players at the four-day international event.

China lived up to its billing as one of world's strongest table tennis countries, taking another two titles in the women's singles and women's doubles.

Gong Yua Chun earned the women's singles crown with a 21-16, 21-17, 21-19 victory over top seed Zhang Hui in an all-Chinese final. Both players turned their rivalry into a solid partnership in the doubles event when they outlasted the South Korean pair of Lee Joo-yun and Oh Yoon-kyung. (amd)