HOYER-LARSEN SURVIVES TOUGH QUARTERFINAL BATTLE AT DANISH OPEN
by Mike Grossman (from a report filed by YANG YANG Badminton Equipment)

October 18, 1996 (New Shuttlenws) - Atlanta Olympic badminton champion Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen of Denmark survived a tough men's singles quarterfinal match against Hermawan Susanto of Indonesia earlier today at the Danish Open of badminton taking place in Middlefart. With his win, Hoyer-Larsen has booked a place in tomorrow's semifinals.

Hoyer-Larsen seemed to be on the easy road to victory when he demolished the Indonesian player in the first game 15-2. Susanto, whose credentials include an Olympic bronze medal from Barcelona and a world championships silver medal in 1993, came roaring back in the second game to defeat the Danish ace 15-5.

The two battled it out in the deciding third game with Hoyer-Larsen coming out on top 15-10.

Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen, Denmark's number two at men's singles, and the up-and-coming Danish player Peter Gade-Christensen also won their quarterfinal matches and will face each other in one of the semifinal matches tomorrow.

Stuer-Lauridsen breezed thru in his quarterfinal match against Kenneth Jonassen, another of the Danish future stars, 15-7 and 15-1.

Gade had to survive a 5-point overtime or setting in the third game of his quarterfinal against Hendrawan of Indonesia, winning by the tightest of margins at 18-17 to qualify for the semifinals. Gade and Hendrawan had split the first two games with Gade taking the first 15-13 and the Indonesian the second at 15-11.

Only Ong Ewe Hock of Malaysia was able to prevent a Danish sweep in the men's singles when he defeated Martin Lundgaard Hansen 15-12 and 15-1.

Ong will face Hoyer-Larsen in the other men's singles semifinal match tomorrow.

In women's singles, Mette Pedersen of Denmark came from behind to upset second-seed Yuliani Sentosa of Indonesia. Pedersen had lost the first game to the Indonesian 6-11 and then came back strong to take the second 11-2. The two ladies then staged a third game battle royale that finally went Pedersen's way 12-11.

The recently-wed Christine Gandrup (formerly Magnusson) of Sweden disposed of the other remaining Indonesian in her quarterfinal match. She beat the fourth seeded Lidya Djaelawidjaya in three games 7-11, 11-4 and 11-0.

Marina Andrievskaya, a transplanted Russian now playing out of Sweden, defeated Anne Sondergaard of Denmark 11-5, 10-12 and 11-8 to book a place in the semifinals.

Gong Zhichao of China qualified for the remaining semifinal berth with her easy 11-1 and 11-0 conquest of the Welsh player Kelly Morgan.

Gong will play Gandrup in one of tomorrow's semifinals. Pedersen and Andrievskaya are booked in the other semifinal match.