HONG KONG OPEN: INDONESIANS AND MALAYSIANS DOMINATE

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November 26, 1998 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Badminton powerhouses Indonesia and Malaysia asserted themselves in the men's singles event of the Hong Kong Open badminton championships today when they took 6 of the 8 quarterfinal places at stake. Indonesia's Budi Santoso turned back sixth-seeded Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark 15-6 and 15-11, Rony Agustinus fought off three match points to beat Anders Boesen of Denmark 15-7, 11-15 and 17-14, and Johan Hadi Kusuma turned back Dicky Palyama of Netherland 12-15, 15-6 and 15-5.

Malaysia's Roslin Hashim defeated comebacking Danish ace Peter Rasmussen, the current world champion, in a very competitive match 15-11, 10-15 and 15-13. Both players took turns putting each other under the pressure of very strong attacking play. In the closely contested decider, it was Rasmussen who faltered in the end, hitting a return to the top of the net on Hashim's second match point.

Ismail Saman, also of Malaysia, turned back another comebacking Dane, Thomas Stuer, a semifinalist in the 1992 Olympics and in the 1995 world championship. Saman fought his way back to victory after dropping the first game 11-15. He took the second 15-12 and the decider 15-13 to gain a quarterfinal spot after a tiring 79-minute struggle.

Malaysian veteran Rashid Sidek survived a struggle with Peter Janum of Denmark, prevailing after three games 14-17, 15-7 and 15-10.

Top seed Peter Gade of Denmark continued to display excellent form in beating Wong Choon Hann of Malaysia 15-10 and 15-3, while fourth-seed Chen Gang of China defeated Indra Wijaya of Indonesia 17-15 and 15-11.

Gade will play Saman in tomorrow's quartefinals. Chen will face Hashim. Sidek is matched up against Johan Kusuma, and Agustinus battles teammate Santoso.

Results of some of today's other matches:

Women's Singles
Second Round
Camilla Martin (Denmark) beat Anika Sietz (Germany) 11-1, 11-1
Zhou Mi (China) beat Ellen Engelina (Indonesia) 11-5, 11-7
Judith Meulendijks (Netherland) beat Kelly Morgan (Wales) 4-11, 13-11, 11-6
Ling Wan Ting (Hong Kong) beat Huang Chia-Chi (Taiwan) 0-11, 11-2, 11-4
Lidya Djaelawidjaya (Indonesia) beat Ng Ching (Hong Kong) 11-8, 11-1
Mette Pedersen (Denmark) beat Zarinah Abdullah (Singapore) 11-7, 11-8
Karolina Ericcson (Sweden) beat Jie Elyni (Hong Kong) 11-5, 11-5
Chan Ya-Ling (Taiwan) beat Koon Wai Chee (Hong Kong) 6-11, 11-8, 11-3

(mc/ds)

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