| |
CHECK
LATEST RESULTS AND NEWS
|
|
|
NEWS
|
Malaysia's Yong and Lee fight for the final
November 10, 2001 - Source : IBF
|
|
 Malaysia are assured of at least a silver medal at the 2* Thailandthis weekend, as youngster Lee Chong Wei and Yong Hock Kin go head to head in today’s semi-finals.
Yong was out to make an impression from the outset of this tournament, after a year dogged by injury woes and lacklustre form His performance in this tournament will have done wonders for his self-confidence, beating the host’s Jakrapan Thanathiratham in his first match after enjoying a walkover thanks to the withdrawal of second seed Colin Haughton. And yesterday, he came through the toughest challenge yet, proving he could still match the form of his compatriots by beating James Chua in five games 0-7, 7-4, 8-6, 5-7, 8-6.
Later today he’ll take on teammate Lee Chong Wei for a shot at the title on Sunday and a share of the US$50,000 prize money that’s up for grabs.
Lee slimmed Thailand’s hopes when he beat Anupap Thiraratsakul – conqueror of the fourth seed George Rimarcdi - 8-7,2-7,7-3,7-3.
Thailand’s hopes are still alive in the form of number one seed Boonsak Polsana, who’s looking even more confident of a first ever World Grand Prix title after coming so close in the Hong Kongin September, and narrowly missing out on the SEA Games crown in the same month when he lost to Malaysian Roslin Hashim.
Polsana, 19, has yet to drop a game during his Thailandcampaign, and was not troubled in his match against the fifth seeded Budi Santoso yesterday, beating the Indonesian 7-4,7-1,7-3 to set up a semi-final bout with Singapore’s Ronald Susilo, also gunning for a first GP title.
The number three seed Susilo had a little more trouble booking his place in the semis, struggling initially against Indonesia’s Mawardi Wiempie, but managing to turn the tide in his favour 4-7,7-0,7-3,8-6.
Things are almost as they should be in the women’s singles, with three of the four seeded players still in contention at the semi-final stage. Only Indonesia’s Atu Rosalina has failed to live up to expectation, missing out on her place in the final four to Singapore’s Fan Liu 7-3,5-7,8-6,7-2.
Liu’s semi-finals opponent will be the number one seed, Sweden’s Marina Andrievskaya, who toppled Malaysia’s hopes of success in the women’s singles when she beat Wong Miew Choo 7-0,7-2,0-7,7-3.
The hosts will be hopeful of a singles double, as second seed Sujitra Ekmongkolpaisarn is still going strong - just like her men’s singles teammate, she’s yet to drop a game this tournament. The SEA Games gold medallist takes on England’s Tracey Hallam, seeded fourth, in today’s semi-finals.
It’s Thailand versus Indonesia in both of the men’s doubles semi-finals today. Top seeds and former SEA Games champions Pramote Teerawiwatana and Tesana Panvisvas wasted little time in their quarter-final against Germany’s Kristof Hopp and Thomas Tesche, and will now take on the dangerous combination of Olympic champion Candra Wijaya and World Champion Halim Haryanto. The Indonesians, who’ve joined forces after Tony Gunawan’s shock retirement, has a tougher than expected time against Malaysians Jeremy Gan and Ng Kean Kok, eventually winning 2-7,7-2,8-6,7-2.
Sigit Budiarto and Hadiyanto Luluk fared better, ousting another Malaysian pair to reach today’s semi-finals. Gan Taik Chai and Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari were beaten solidly by the Indonesians 7-1,7-3,7-1, who now face Khunakorn Sudhisodhi and Patapol Ngernsrisuk.
Sudhisodhi missed his chance of reaching the final of the mixed event (held a day earlier) with Saralee Thungthongkam. The Thai pair, seeded second, lost to Candra Wijaya – making an unusual appearance in the mixed doubles – and Jo Novita after a tough battle which went the full distance 7-4,7-8,6-8,7-5,7-4.
In an all-Indonesian mixed doubles final, Wijaya and Novita take on unknowns Ronne Maykel Runtolalu and Enny Widiowati, who beat the number one seeded Swedish pair of Frederik Bergstrom and Jenny Karlsson.
The Indonesia team are assured of at least one spot in tomorrow’s women’s doubles final – Eny Erlangga and Jo Novita square up to Emma Ermawati and Enny Widiowati in the semis today, and Tety Yunita and P Monica take on Saralee Thungthongkam and Sathinee Chankrachangwong.
Results
Men's Singles
Women's Singles
Men's Doubles
Women's Doubles
Mixed Doubles |
|
|
|
Other news:
» Now Gopichand pulls out of Malaysian Open
» Xia, Martin have top billing at 2002 Malaysia Open
» Hafiz to take three-week break
|
|
|
Mail to friend
Printer Friendly
Back to Previous Page
