Wukirasih beats Irawati to take Governor Cup

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's young hope Wukirasih Sawondari collected the Rp 50 million Governor Cup women's satellite championship title yesterday by defeating veteran Irawati Moerid Iskandar 6-0, 6-3.

It was the 15-year-old's first win in a US$10,000 satellite tournament. Wukirasih took home $1,600 while runner-up Irawati pocketed $1,000.

Wukirasih, who finished first in this year's national team selection, had no trouble outplaying Irawati in just 52 minutes. She forced Irawati to follow her tempo in baseline rallies.

Irawati, making a comeback after delivering her child, could not keep up the game of patience and made many unforced errors.

"This is my first win in a satellite tournament," Wukirasih said. "With my win, I feel I will have tougher challenges. I'll try to maintain and improve my playing in the future."

Irawati said the final was an anticlimax after her success in earlier rounds. She said she played poorly, either hitting the ball out or making short returns which left her opponent with easy put-aways.

"It was my bad day, but reaching the final was a very unbelievable thing in my comeback," she said.

Wukirasih and Irawati will both play in the West Java Governor Cup this week. Wukirasih will go straight into the main draw while Irawati has to struggle in the qualifying round.

In the women's doubles, Wang Shi Ting/Hsu Hsueh Li of Chinese Taipei defeated Japanese duo Yoriko Yamagishi/Tomoe Hotta 6-4, 6- 4.

In the men's singles, Indonesia Open International Junior champion Febi Widhiyanto had to work hard to defeat veteran Suhendar Dinata 5-7, 6-3, 6-1.

At 17, Febi became the youngest male player to win the Governor Cup. He received Rp 3.6 million ($1,364) and Suhendar won Rp 2,120,000.

Febi did not fare as well in the men's doubles with partner Edy Kusdaryanto, losing to Sebastian da Costa/Surya Wijaya 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Deputy Governor R. Moeseno closed the event. (yan)