The Hindu : Sport : Indian challenge ends

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 10, 2005

Sport

Sport

Indian challenge ends

V.V. Subrahmanyam

— Photo: K. Ramesh Babu

FULL STRETCH: Top seed Ng Wei did not have to sweat much to advance to the semifinals.

HYDERABAD: : Chetan Anand and Arvind Bhat flattered to deceive in the men's singles quarterfinals and with their defeat the Indian challenge ended in the Indian Oil Corporation senior Asian Badminton Confederation championship for men and women at Gachibowli indoor stadium here on Friday.

Former national champion Chetan won the first game with effortless ease 15-10 and just when the home crowd was expecting a dramatic result, he wilted under pressure as the Malaysian opponent Kuan Beong Hong started unleashing stunning smashes which brooked no return. Chetan's game went haywire and all the class he displayed in the first game with delectable drops and a high quality net game suddenly disappeared. Kuan Beong won 10-15, 15-7, 15-2 in 62 minutes.

So was the case with Arvind Bhat who ran up a convincing 10-3 lead in the first game against Korean Lee Hyun II only to lose it at 16-17. The Indian shuttler caved in to the aggressive game of Lee who attacked at the net. The low serve undid the Indian. And once the first game was lost, it seemed the confidence too deserted the young Indian. In the second game, he was completely outplayed as the Korean was in no mood to be complacent as he produced some classy down the line smashes and mixed them with splendid drops. The Korean wrapped up the match in 50 minutes.

Earlier, Athens Olympics bronze medallist Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia shocked fourth-seeded Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand 11-15, 15-4, 15-11 to move into the semifinal. Perhaps the pep talk by his coach, Joko Suprianto during the break after the first game loss helped him as Kuncoro looked far more organized in his attack and defence.

Top-seeded Ng Wei of Hong Kong did not waste time in disposing off Ayob Sairul Amar of Malaysia 15-10, 15-5 in the quarterfinal.

In the women's section, top-seeded Wang Chen of Hong Kong, fresh from her Korean Open triumph, was too good for Hirayama Yu of Japan 11-7, 11-3 to wrap up the quarterfinal in 38 minutes.

In the afternoon, India's mixed doubles pair of V. Diju and Gutta Jwala was knocked out in the quarterfinals by Njoto Albertus Susanto and Li Wing (Hong Kong) 12-15, 12-15 in 40 minutes.

The results:

Singles: Men: Quarterfinals: Ng Wei (HK) bt Ayob Sairul Amar (Mal) 15-10, 15-5; Kuan Beng Hong (Mal) bt Chetan Anand 10-15, 15-7, 15-2; Lee Hyun II bt Arvind Bhat 17-16, 15-5. Sony Dwl Kuncoro (Ina) bt Boonsak Ponsana (Tha) 11-15, 15-4, 15-11.

Women: Quarterfinals: Wang Chen (HK) bt Hirayama Yu (Jpn) 11-7, 11-3; Cheng Shao Chieh (Chinese Taipei) bt Yonekura Kanako (Jpn) 1-11,11-8, 11-6; Hirose Eriko (Jpn) bt Wong Mew Choo (Malaysia) 11-8, 11-6; Mori Kaori (Jpn) bt Adriyanti Firdasari (Ina) 11-3, 7-11, 11-4.

Mixed doubles: Quarterfinals: V. Diju and Jwala Gutta lost to Njoto Albertus Susanto and li Wing (HK) 12-15, 12-15; Lee Jae Jin and Lee Hyo Jing (Kor) bt Kawamae Naoki and Akao Aki (Jpn) 15-2, 15-2; Song Phon and Kunchala (Tha) lost to Mohammed Rizwal and Endang (Ina) 15-8, 6-15, 14-17; Deving Lehardi and Vita Marissa (Ina) lost to Sudket Prpakamol and Sarajee (Tha) 15-17, 5-15.

Women's doubles: Lee Kyung Won and Lee Hyo Jung (Kor) bt Thilini Jayasinghe and Renu (Sri) 15-1, 15-1; Koon Wai Chee and Li Wing Mui (HK) lost to Ogura Kumsako and Shiota Reiko (Jpn) 0-15, 7-15.

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