Indons sputter vs world class rivals (July 21, 2007)

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Suddenly, the Indonesians lost their luster.

In a twist of fate, the Indons found themselves with only one entry in the final of the 2007 Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton Championships after majority of their 10 bets who marched into the quarterfinal round Friday succumbed to superior opposition.

 

Falling by the wayside were the pair of Lilyana Natsir and Vita Marissa, who bowed to the top seeded Taiwan tandem of Yu Chin Chien and Wen Hsing Cheng, 21-17, 15-21, 21-12, and the team of fourth-ranked Endang Nursugianti and Rani Mundiasti, who was upset by the No. 6 pair Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna of Japan, 21-16, 21-15, both in women’s doubles.

 

The men’s doubles pair of Luluk Hadiyanto and Alvent Chandra, ranked No. 8, bowed to Chiense Zhendong Guo and Zhongbo Xie, 18-21, 21-15, 21-17.

 

Three Indon entries were also shown the door in the semis, including Ardiyanti Firdasari, who lost to Zhu Jingjing of China, 21-13, 22-20, in ladies singles; the Marissa-Limpele team, which dropped a sorry 23-21, 11-21, 21-19 setback to Koreans Yu Mi Hwang and Sang Hoon Han in the mixed doubles; and Sony Dwi Kuncoro, who withdrew against Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia in the men’s singles due to back spasms.

 

Left to carry the fight for the Indons were the top seed tandem of Natsir and Widianto, who stopped the fancied Thai pair of Kunchala Voravichitchaikul and Songphon Anugritayawon, 21-14, 21-18.

 

The defending champion team of Jo Novita and Greysia Polii was actually vying for a return stint to the final of the women’s doubles at presstime against the top-ranked pair of Yu Chin Chien and Wen Hsing Cheng.