Indons threaten to dominate RP Open (July 20, 2007)

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Despite the unceremonious exit of its top player,
Taufik Hidayat, Indonesia is poised to dominate the
second Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton
Championships by sending 10 players to the
quarterfinal round of the $120,000 event.

That includes three pairs each in the women’s doubles
and mixed doubles, two pairs in the men’s doubles and
one entry each in the men’s singles and ladies
singles.

A sure stint in the semis of the mixed doubles is
assured for the Indons as top seeded pair of Lilyana
Natsir and Nova Widianto are battling it out with
compatriots Lita Nurlita and Devin Fitriawan for the
first berth at presstime.

The Indons are also expecting a grand finish in
women’s doubles as they put in three pairs, including
the fancied Lilyana Natsir-Vita Marissa tandem, which
is coming off a big victory in last week’s China
Masters.

Also in the women’s doubles quarters are Jo Novita and
Vita Greysia Polil and the fourth seeded team of
Endang Nursugianti and Rani Mundiasti.

The second seeded tandem of Vita Marissa and Flandy
Limpele also shoots for a semis slot against the
Taiwanese pair of Wen Hsing Cheng and Chieh Min Fang
in the lower half of the draw.

Adriyanti Firdasari is the lone Indon entry in women’s
singles but she will have her hands full against
against Chinese Yihan Wang.

Sony Dwi Kuncoro, No. 6 in the men’s singles, clashes
with Singaporean 10th seed Ronald Susilo in the lower
half of the draw which features second seed and world
No. 3 Lee Chong wei of Malaysia.

The eighth ranked tandem of Luluk Hadiyanto and Alvent
Chandra and the Rian Sukmawan-Yonathan Dasuki carry
the Indons’ bid in the men’s doubles, which features
the top seeded and world No. 2 pair of Kien Keat Koo
and Boon Heong Tan of Malaysia.

China, the world badminton power, has seven entries in
the quarters, including four in the singles, headed by
top seed Chen Hong (men’s) and Zhu Jingjing, who
dethroned last year’s champion Saina Nehwal of Indian
in the first round.

Taiwan, meanwhile, has two teams each in women’s
double and mixed doubles and one in men’s doubles.
Hidayat, the reigning Olympic and Asian Games champion
and one of the fancied bets to contend for the men’s
singles, fell to unheralded Vietnamese Tien Minh
Nguyen, 18-21, 13-21, in the most stunning reversal
posted so far in the upset-marred event sponsored by
Bingo Bonanza Corp. and organized by IMG.