Indonesia secures only one slot in Macau badminton final
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 08/22/2009 9:51 PM
The mixed doubles team of Hendra Aprida Gunawan and Vita Marissa will be the only players left to save Indonesia’s blushes in the US$120,000 Grand Prix Gold Macau Open badminton championship.
Hendra/Vita edged out China’s fifth-seeded pair of Chen Zhiben/Zhang Jinkang 24-22, 17-21, 21-13 on Saturday to reach the final on Sunday. The Indonesians will take on another Chinese team He Hanbin/Yu Yang, the top seeds who made short work of Mikkel Delbo Larsen/Mie Schjott-Kristiansen of Denmark for a 21-14, 21-10 win in the other semifinal.
Indonesia’s best bet in the men’s singles, Taufik Hidayat, lost to Malaysia’s world number one Lee Chong Wei in straight sets 18-21, 20-22. It was the Indonesian’s second upset defeat after his semifinal exit in the World Championships in Hyderabad, India last week.
Lee set up an all-Malaysian final against Wong Choong Hann, who downed China’s World Championships finalist Chen Jin 21-13, 6-21, 21-11.
The men’s doubles final will see another all-Malaysian affair. Malaysia’s veteran pair of Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah beat Indonesian second strings Wifqi Windarto/Afiat Yuris Wirawan on Saturday to meet Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong in Sunday’s final.
