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Confident start for Thai top seed
November 08, 2001 - Source : IBF
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 Boonsak Polsana's campaign for a first ever World Grand Prix title got underway in confident style at the 2* Thailandyesterday, when the 19-year-old notched up a straight games victory over Vietnam's Buu Son Ly.
The homegrown top seed recorded a confident 7/0, 7/4, 7/1 win against the unknown Ly, who's only ever played in one international event - the Vietnam Satellite back in December 2000. Polsana will now take on Malaysian Yogendran Khrishnan for a place in the quarter-finals of this US$50,000 event, staged at the Bangkok National Stadium.
If the tournament follows the formbooks, the world number 24 will be gearing up for his third final in two months, following successes at the SEA Games and Hong Kongin September.
But he'll face two tough hurdles along the way, as after meeting Khrishnan in the next round, Polsana is drawn to play Indonesia's Budi Santoso (pictured), and then the tournament's second favourite Ronald Susilo of Singapore in the semi-finals.
Susilo got off to a shaky start in his first match of the tournament against Malaysian Pei Wei Chung, but pulled through in four games 5/7, 7/5, 7/0, 7/3 to set up a bout with the host's Adisak Wiriyapadungpong.
In the bottom half of the draw, Yong Hock Kin was the one to benefit from Colin Haughton's withdrawal, reaching the last 16 without having to lift his racket. He'll play another Thai, Jakrapan Thanathiratham, for a quarter-finals berth.
The match to watch yesterday was the one involving fourth seed George Rimarcdi and Sony Dwi Kuncoro, runner-up at the 2000 World Junior Championships and newly-crowned Indonesian national champion after ousting in the final Taufik Hidayat last weekend.
Kuncoro (pictured) initially held the advantage, winning the first closely-fought games 8/6, but the more experienced Rimarcdi knew what needed to be done and had little trouble in the following three games, clinching the win 6/8, 7/4, 7/2, 7/3.
While the women's singles campaigns begin in earnest today, there's been plenty of action in the doubles events.
Top seeds in the mixed doubles, Frederik Bergstrom and Jenny Karlsson, had an easier than expected time against Indonesia's former world champion Sigit Budiarto, partnered by Eny Erlangga. The Swedes were through to the quarter-finals in straight games 7/2, 7/1, 7/2 where they will Indonesian pair Hendra Gunawan and Lita Nurlita.
Second seeds Khunakorn Sudhisodhi and Saralee Thungthongkam remain on course - they beat Budi Santoso and Emma Ermawati in four games 4/7, 7/3, 7/2, 7/1 and take on Imam Sodikin Irawan and Marlina Lina for place in the final four.
All the seeded pairs progressed unscathed through to the quarter-finals of the women's doubles. Top seeds Eny Erlangga and Jo Novita spared little time for Australian duo Rhonda Cator and Kate Wilson-Smith, sending them packing 7/1, 7/0, 7/3, while second favourites Saralee Thungthongkam and Sathinee Chankrachangwong ended the hopes of Malaysia's Fong Chen Yen and Chin Eei Hui 8/6, 7/3, 7/2.
Malaysia's third and fourth seeded pairs - Lim Pek Siah and Ang Li Peng, and Norhasikin Amin and Wong Pei Tty - both dropped games before claiming their places in the quarter-finals.
The top pairs in the men's doubles step on court for the first time today, although Indonesia's unseeded pairs have already done some damage. Candra Wijaya and new partner Halim Haryanto, crushed Singapore's Khoo Kian Teck and Chua Yong Joo 7/1, 7/0, 7/1, while Thitipong Lapoe and Polawat Daanpasukkul has an equally grim fate against Sigit Budiarto and Hadiyanto Luluk.
These two Indonesian pairs pose a very real threat to the seeds in the coming rounds.
Results
Men's Singles
Women's Singles
Men's Doubles
Women's Doubles
Mixed Doubles
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Other news:
» Now Gopichand pulls out of Malaysian Open
» Xia, Martin have top billing at 2002 Malaysia Open
» Hafiz to take three-week break
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