Taufik, Simon advance, Kido and Hendra bow out

World number two men’s singles Taufik Hidayat won an arduous battle in the second round of the Korea Open Super Series Premier to be among the few Indonesian shuttlers left in the quarterfinals in Seoul on Friday.

Taufik needed one hour and four minutes to conquer Hong Kong’s Wong Wing Ki, losing the first game 19-21, but picking up the next two games in a tight contest 21-18, 21-17.

The Athens Olympics gold medalist looks on course to possibly face arch nemesis Lin Dan of China, who plays Germany’s Mark Zwiebler late Thursday. Lin holds a 7-3 record in matches against Taufik.

After struggling to overcome Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen in the second round, world number one shuttler Lee Chong Wei advanced to the quarterfinal with ease as he sidelined South Korea’s Park Sung-hwan 21-14, 21-9. The Malaysia Open champion faces China’s Wang Zhengming on Friday.

Third seed men’s singles Peter Gade of Denmark also cruised to the quarterfinal after beating India’s P. Kashyap 21-16, 21-13. Gade will meet Indonesia’s Simon Santoso, who beat Rajiv England’s Ouseph 21-19,21-15.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s men’s doubles pair Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan and mixed doubles pair Nova Widianto and Vita Marissa were among the large contingent of Indonesians to bow out in the second round Thursday.

Markis and Hendra lost 18-21, 18-21 in a rapid 26-minute match against South Korea’s Kim Ki Jung and Kim Sa Rang.

“Hendra is still making some adjustments because of his injured foot,” Indonesian coach Sigit Pamungkas told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

“However, I believe there has been a lot of progress with the pair. I’m confident Hendra will be fit within the next 30 days for the All England. We only need to lift up his spirits,” Sigit said, referring to the duo’s chances of winning the Mar. 8-13 All England Open in Birmingham.

Despite having won the Olympics, the Asian Games, the SEA Games gold medals as well as the world championships, Kido and Hendra have not won at the prestigious All England tournament.

In the mixed doubles, Tantowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir were Indonesia’s only other entrants to the quarterfinals as they beat compatriots Frans Kurniawan and Pia Zebadiah.

Newly reunited pair Nova Widianto and Vita Marissa bowed out after losing to Denmark’s Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Perdersen. M. Rijal and Debby Susanto were unceremoniously shown the door by Chinese fifth seeds Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei 10-21, 6-21.

Men’s doubles pair Alvent Yulianto Chandra and Hendra AG also lost 18-21, 12-21 to Malaysia’s Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari and Soon Hock Ong. — JP/Agnes Winarti