SIDEK STRUGGLES PAST INDON SECOND TEAMER
by Mike Grossman (from a report filed by J.Chang)

November 13, 1996 (New Shuttlenws) - The 3-4 seeded Rashid Sidek of Malaysia was put through a grueling test of stamina and intestinal fortitude today by the young Indonesian player, Rosobin Jeffer, in a round-of-16 men's singles match at the badminton Thailand Open.

In a match that lasted over 100 minutes, Sidek was stretched by the Indonesian second team player over three games.

Sidek easily won the first game 15-7 and was in a position to close out the match in the second. The Malaysian was at match point 14-10 but the gritty Jeffer took four points from a tiring Sidek to send the game into a three-point setting.

The two exchanged points in the setting, 16-16, until Jeffer managed to tally the game-winner.

In the third game, Jeffer stormed to an early 7-0 lead before Sidek was able to mount a comeback. Jeffer still held the upper hand, though, and reached match point at 14-12.

The young Indonesian served for the match four times but was unable to capitalize. He made several errors and allowed Sidek to knot the game up at 14-all.

In the setting that followed, the Malaysian dominated the disheartened and erratic Jeffer and scored the needed three points to win at 17-14.

Sidek's win puts him in the quarterfinals where he will face Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen of Denmark.

In other developments, top-seeded men's doubles pair Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock of Malaysia withdrew from the tourney prior to the first match. Yap is reportedly unable to play because of a pulled stomach muscle.

Top-seeded women's doubles pair Rosiana Zelin and Eliza also pulled out of the tourney prior to the first match. Eliza took ill reportedly with a bad reaction to some medication and had to be flown home immediately.