Jakarta (JP): Men’s singles shuttler Hendrawan won the US$80,000 three-star Thailandon Sunday, the only Indonesian success at the event, with China taking the remaining for
titles.Top-seeded Hendrawan world number three, only needed 29 minutes to defeat compatriot Budi Santoso 15-8, 15-10 in all-Indonesian final.
“It’s never easy to play against your own teammate,
especially since we both have the same coach (Agus Dwi Santoso),” he told The Jakarta Post in a telephone interview.
AFP reported the 28-year-old performed exceptionally well against Santoso, exhibiting
superior courtcraft and accuracy. He made spectacular and devastating overhead smashes, fast cross-court drop shots and swift drops before the net.
“I regard this victory as a regular one, moreover it was only a
three-star tournament. I appreciate my result here as there were lost of though rivals here especially the Chinese team, which fielded its best shuttlers,” said Hendrawan, who earned $6,400 for winning.
The title also
ended Hendrawan’s drought. Prior to Sunday’s win, his last victories were the Singaporein 1988 and the Thailandin 1997.
“I don’t know why I can only perform really well in major tournaments such as the
Thomas Cup from 1996 to 2000 and at the 1998 Asian Games,” he said with a laugh.
Speaking on his chances at the Indonesiaat the Senayan Tennis Indoor Stadium, which starts this Wednesday, Hendrawan said he would
try his best.
“I always have difficult times at the Indonesia especially when I have to face my own teammates. I have an ambition to win the title too but let’s just wait and see,” said the second seed in this
week’s tournament, after Dane Peter Gade Christensen.
Hendrawan said he would evaluate his performances in both the Thailand and Indonesian prior to the Olympic Games in Sydney in September.
“I hope to win the
gold medal at the Olympics to keep my promise to my country, Indonesia, which won the golds in both the Olympics in 1992 and 1996,” he said, as quoted by AFP.
The women’s singles title was won by Chinese three-time
All England women’s singles champion Ye Zhaoying who beat her compatriot Zhou Mi 11-5, 11-0 in only 25 minutes.
Ye won the All-England honors in 1997, 1998 and 1999.
On Sunday she displayed superior smashes
and shots, while Zhou made several unforced errors at the net.
“I am very pleased to win the title here,” she said.
In the women’s doubles final, China’s Ge Fei and Gu Jun beat Yang Wei and Huang Nanyang, also of
China, 15-8, 15-11.
The men’s doubles top honors went to the Chinese pair of Zhang Jun and Zhang Wei after they defeated the Indonesian duo of Halim Haryanto and Sigit Budiarto 15-5, 15-10, in the last match of the
tournament.
“We failed to match their speed. They were to fast in their offense and we just blacked out, feeling unable to do anything,” Halim told the Post.
Saturday’s mixed doubles final was one by
Chinese second seeds Zhang Jun and Gao Ling after defeating the 1998 All England champions Simon Archer and Joanne Goode of England 15-13, 15-12. (yan)
