Young Chinese shuttler beats Ardy in U.S. Open

Young Chinese shuttler beats Ardy in U.S. Open

ATLANTA, Georgia (Agencies): Ardy Wiranata may have to prepare
himself for his second Olympic agony what with crashing to defeat
at the hands of Chinese young gun Dong Jiong in the quarterfinals
of the U.S. Open badminton championships on Friday.

Top seed Ardy, Indonesia's world number two, displayed a
stubborn defense, but could come up with a quick attacking game
like that employed by the towering Dong, who went on for a classy
15-7, 15-5 win.

Giant killer Dong, who has included almost all of world's best
players among his victims, is seeking his first major title of
the year. And the odds look to favor him when he plays Dutchman
Jeroen van Dijk in the semifinals.

Ardy's defeat capped Indonesia's misery at the Olympic
badminton prelude. It now has only Hermawan Susanto left in the
singles competition. And even though Hermawan showed consistent
pressure to overcome Kim Hak-kyun in straight sets 15-6, 15-6,
another victory is no sure thing.

Marleve Mainaky, one among Indonesia's male trio at the
tournament, was bundled out earlier in the third round.

Indonesia's two ace women's singles players, Mia Audina and
Yuliani Sentosa, also tumbled in the early rounds.

Ardy took the Olympic silver medal in 1992 after a bitter loss
to compatriot Alan Budikusuma.

Alan and his Olympic fiance Susi Susanti and the world men's
singles number one Hariyanto Arbi were major absentees at the
event staged at the University of Georgia's indoor stadium, the
venue for badminton competition during the Olympic Games.

Hermawan, who won his only title of the year in Taipei last
January, will now try to save his team from blushing further when
he faces another South Korean Ahn Jae-chang for a place in
today's final.

In the women's division, two top seeds, Bang Soo-hyun of South
Korea and Ye Zhaoying of China, moved closer to setting up a
final showdown.

Bang made it into the semifinals after demolishing Huang Chia
Chi of Chinese Taipei 11-1, 11-3, and will play an Asian Games
final rerun against Japan's Hisako Mizui.

World champion Ye, second seed here, meets South Korea's Kim
Ji-hyun in the other semifinal. Ye survived a thrilling match
against another South Korean Ra Kyung-min 11-6, 8-11, 11-3. Kim
dispatched Japan's Tatako Ida, who conquered Mia in the third
round, with an easy 11-6, 11-1 win. (amd)