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Top seeds tumble in Indonesia semi-finals
July 29, 2001 - Source : IBF
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The seeded men’s singles shuttlers provided the biggest upset in today’s semi-finals at the US$170,000 Sanyo Indonesia
 Amongst the victims were top seed Lee Hyun Il of Korea and Pullela Gopichand of India, seeded number two.
The 21-year-old Lee surprisingly gave up to Malaysian Lee Tsuen Seng (pictured) in straight games 5-7, 5-7, 4-7 in the first of the men’s singles semis at the Bung Karno indoor stadium in Jakarta. Gopichand suffered the same fate and bowed out to Indonesian Marleve Mainaky, also in straight games 2-7, 6-8, 1-7.
Hyun Il, who led 4-1 in the first game, could not maintain his consistency and played badly to enable the 22-year-old Tsuen Seng to pull back and win the first game. In the last two games, the Korean made his own errors. On the other hand, Tsuen Seng played aggressively. He took the initiative to attack and to intercept the Korean’s shuttlecock in front of the net.
“I feel motivated, and my playing mood is good. So whatever I want, it happens in the court,” the Malaysian said after the victory.
Tsuen Seng admitted that he did feel a little bit afraid of playing the top class shuttler before the match.
However, he said that the Korean played under pressure and was too cautious. Hyun Il, on the other hand said, he lost his fighting spirit when his rival managed to narrow the gap and won the first set.
“I was too hasty in the first set because I wanted to conclude it with victory. When I lost, I also lost my fighting spirit in the remaining two sets,” the left-handed Hyun Il said.
Tsuen Seng said he was very enthusiastic about meeting Marleve in the final on Sunday. He said it was better for him to fight the 29-year-old Indonesian than Gopichand, who is much younger. The 2001 Swissfinalist pledged to play offensively in the final like he did when he beat Hyun Il today.
Marleve said that he must put Tsuen Seng under pressure in the early sets and not make any unnecessary errors. Marleve played at a fast pace when he outclassed Gopichand, the 2001All England champion, on Saturday.
“I dared to play in fast pace because we are using the new scoring system. I only have to earn seven points to win a game, so I’m not afraid that I will lose all my energy,” he said.
He also said that Gopichand was under form.
In the second set, Gopi, his nickname, tried to put a brake on Marleve with long rallies and overhead passes which fell beyond Marleve’s reach. The strategy had helped Gopi to lead 4-1. But later Marleve realised where Gopi was heading and refused to be entangled in his playing scheme.
“Marleve is an experienced shuttler. He was not influenced by my play. He played very well by forcing me to increase my speed,” said Gopi.
The Indian shuttler said, however, that he was not downhearted by his achievement in Malaysiaand Indonesia In Malaysia, another Indonesian junior hopeful Rony Agustinus crashed out Gopi in the quarter-finals.
Gopi argued that he only had four days to prepare himself before competing in Malaysia and Jakarta. After finishing the Indonesia Gopi plans to train at the Tangkas Bogasari club in Jakarta before he performs in the Brunei World Grand Prix Finals.
Indonesia’s top pairs of Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto (pictured), and Tony Gunawan and Halim Haryanto will fight each other in the men’s doubles final on Sunday. It will their third head-to-head encounter this year after the All England final where Tony and Halim won, the and Malaysiafor Candra’s and Sigit’s victory.
For the Indonesian badminton fans, the final match will also decide who is the strongest between the two pairs. This year, both pairs have so far won two titles. Besides winning the All England, Tony and Halim are also the World Champions, while Candra and Sigit won the Japantitle before Malaysia.
In the mixed doubles event, England’s hope to catch the Indonesiatitle for the second consecutive years was shattered after their only remaining pair, Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms, lost to Tri Kusharyanto and Emma Ermawati 8-7, 1-7, 0-7, 2-7. Last year, England won two titles in Indonesia the mixed doubles title was won by Simon Archer and Joanne Goode, and women’s doubles title by Goode and Donna Kellogg.
The mixed doubles final will be an all-Indonesian affair after second seeds Nova Widianto and Vita Marissa edged out Swedish duo Frederik Bergstrom and Jenny Karlsson 8-7, 8-7, 7-3.
The top seeded women’s singles shuttler Wang Chen of Hong Kong was still unbeatable. She earned her final berth after overcoming Indonesian top shuttler Cindana Hartono Kusuma 5-7, 7-3, 7-1, 7-2.
“I play in my usual style and I will continue to play like that in the final. Certainly I have a special strategy but it’s my secret. Cindana is not so special and I was not impressed by her play,” Wang said.
Wang will meet the other Indonesian shuttler, Ellen Angelina, who outshone second seed and teammate Lydia Djaelawijaya 7-4, 7-3, 8-6 in Saturday’s semi-final. Ellen said that Wang was a good shuttler who has complete strokes.
“But I think she also has a weakness. I will observe her and make use of her own defects to beat her in the final,” Ellen said.
There is one remaining pair from Europe in the women’s doubles final. Ann-Lou Jorgensen and Jane Bramsen of Denmark beat Indonesian duo of Emma and Enny Widiowati 7-3, 7-2, 7-2 to set up a final clash with Indonesian top pair of Deyana Lomban and Vita in the final.
| report by Yunas Santhani Azis; photos by Julian Sihombing
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» Xia, Martin have top billing at 2002 Malaysia Open
» Hafiz to take three-week break
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