Badminton

Indonesian national team shuttler Sony Dwi Kuncoro. (AFP Photo/Liu Jin)

Indonesia National Team Shuttlers Dominate, Winning 4 of 5 Titles

Surabaya. The national shuttlers set aside a series of disappointing campaigns in foreign tournaments and buckled down to win four of the five titles on offer at the 2010 National Badminton Championship on Sunday.

Sony Dwi Kuncoro led the national team’s charge after he beat Andre Kurniawan Tedjono 21-17, 22-20 to win the men’s singles title.

Andre looked determined to follow up his stunning victory over the country’s top-ranked player, Simon Santoso, in the semifinals, giving Sony all he could handle in their title match.

But Sony, 25, played with enough poise to outlast his opponent in 55 minutes.

“I’m pleased to win this title because I did it in front of my home province,” said Sony, a native of East Java. “This is surely a stepping-stone for me as I work to win more championships in the future.”

Members of the national team disputed three finals.

Maria Kristin Yulianti took the women’s singles title after she beat fellow Central Java native Marie Febe Kusumastuti 21-17, 17-21, 23-21.

“She played very well. She was quick and she played with determination,” said Kristin, a bronze medalist at the 2008 Olympics. “I just did my best not to lose my patience and that worked for me.”

In women’s doubles, Greysia Polii and Meiliana Jauhari defeated Lilyana Natsir and Shendy Puspa Irawati 21-19, 18-21, 21-17 to take the title.

Greysia took home a second trophy after she and Tantowi Ahmad downed Muhammad Rijal and Debby Susanto 21-11, 21-19 in mixed doubles.

Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan prevented a sweep by the national shuttlers, taking the men’s doubles title after cruising past Rian Sukmawan and Yonathan Suryatama Dasuki 21-9, 21-13 in 23 minutes.

The tournament served as part of the national team’s preparations for the Asian zone qualifying round for the Thomas and Uber Cups in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, on Feb. 21-28.

All the winners, including Markis and Hendra, who left the national team last month, will compete in the qualifiers.

  Badminton

Antara

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