Indons sustain drive in RP Open (July 20, 2007)

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Indonesian Adriyanti Firdasari put an end to Chinese
top qualifier Yihan Wang’s remarkable run in the 2007
Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton Championships,
scoring a 21-14, 21-16 victory Friday for a semifinal
duel with another Chinese bet Zhu Jing Jing in women’s
singles at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City, Metro
Manila.

Firdasari, a Jakarta native ranked 50th in the world,
clipped the taller Wang with her power and speed in
the opening set then sustained her charge to complete
the rout in 28 minutes and lead the Indons’ virtual
inexorable march into the weekend play of the $120,000
championship.

With the top seeded pair of Lilyana Natsir and Nova
Widianto and the second ranked team of Vita Marissa
and Flandy Limpele also advancing to the semis of the
mixed doubles, the Indons looked forward to an
explosive finish with five more pairs vying in the
men’s and women’s doubles and Sony Kuncoro fighting
for a berth in men’s singles at presstime.

But the Chinese, long considered as the world power in
the sport, are out to foil the Indons’ bid as Zhu, a
22-year-old shuttler from Wuhan, braced for her
showdown with Firdasari, pulling off an equally
impressive 21-10, 21-13 win over Anna Rice of Canada.
Firdasari, a veteran of the Sudirman Cup whose last
victory came in the 2006 Dutch Open, said she’s in
tip-top form and hopes to win the ladies singles crown
worth $8,280.
“I’m playing well, had better footwork and I hope I
continue to win,” said Fidasari, who dropped out of
the first round in last year’s inaugural of this event
sponsored by Bingo Bonanza Corp. and organized by IMG.
Zhu, who booted out last year’s champion Saina Nehwal
of India, 21-15, 21-13, in the first round, said she’s
unfazed of her taller Indon rival.
“She’s tall but I’m quicker,” said Zhu through an
interpreter.

The semifinal round, to be aired live on Solar Sports
and RPN-9, starts at 2 p.m. Saturday.
German Juliane Schenk booted out the last seeded bet
in ladies singles, outplaying No. 6 Pui Yin Yip of
Hong Kong, 17-21, 21-19, 21-13, to set up a semis
clash with another Hong Kong bet, Mi Zhou, who swept
Japan’s Hirayama Yu, 21-17, 21-14, in the lower
bracket.

Earlier, Natsir and Widianto held off compatriots Lita
Nurlita and Devin Lahardi Fitrinawan, 21-17, 21-17, to
clinch the first semis seat in the mixed doubles.
The win by the world No. 2 Indons set them up against
Kunchala Voravichitchaikul and Songphon Anugritayawon
of Thailand, who won the gold medal in the 2005 Manila
Southeast Asian Games.

The Thais, out to defend the crown won by compatriots
Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthangkam over RP’s
Kennie and Kennevic Asuncion, battled back from a set
down to turn back Valeri Sorokina and Vitalij Durkin
of Russia, 21-23, 21-11, 21-17.

“It’s hard playing against them because they know our
strategies and weaknesses,” said the 29-year-old
Widianto. “But we were able to pull it off.”

Second pick Vita Marissa and Flandy Limpele of
Indonesia also made it through the last four by edging
upset-conscious Cheng Wen Hsing and Fang Cheih Min of
Chinese Taipei in a grueling 21-14, 15-21, 21-14
battle in the lower half of the draw.

Marissa and Limpele will face No. 5 Hwang Yu Mi and
Han Sang Hoon of Korea next.
The Korean tandem likewise pulled off a tough
three-setter over Chien Yu Chin and Hsieh Yu Hsin of
Chinese Taipei, 12-21, 21-15, 22-20.
Chien and Hsieh eliminated the Asuncions in Thursday’s
second round, 21-16, 21-16.