KONICA CUP (SINGAPORE OPEN): WIJAYA TOPPLES SUN JUN

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July 26, 1997 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Fifth seed Indra Wijaya, one of Indonesia's rising men's singles stars, today upset the top-seeded Sun Jun of China in a semifinal match at the Konica Cup - Singapore Open. Wijaya played well both at the net and in the backcourt to defeat Sun.

Wijaya's net play and smashes took him to victory in the first game 15-9. Sun took the second with a lopsided 15-2 score as Wijaya made many errors, often hitting shots long.

In the third game, Sun, playing in his fourth consecutive three-game match in the tournament, was without his usual quickness around the court as Wijaya controlled play with tight net shots and powerful smashes. Wijaya, who had a 15-1 and 15-5 cakewalk against teammate George Rimarcdi in yesterday's quarterfinals, was the fresher of the two and won the decider 15-7.

In the other men's singles semifinal, second-seed Heryanto Arbi of Indonesia defeated teammate Ardy Wiranata. Arbi was able to unleash his jumpsmash-and- jumpsmash style against the defensive-minded Wiranata. While Wiranata, the seventh seed, was able to defend against the offensive-minded Arbi early, the Indonesian jumping jack soon wore down Wiranata's defenses. Arbi maintained the attack throughout the match to win 15-10 and 15-6.

In the women's singles semifinals, top-seed Gong Zhichao of China beat fourth seed Kim Ji Hyun of Korea 11-1 and 11-7, while second-seed Mia Audina of Indonesia disposed of third seed Zhang Ning of China 11-6 and 11-8.

In the men's doubles event, world champions Budiarto Sigit and Chandra Wijaya had stiff opposition from fellow Indonesians Halim and Da(h)vis, but won their semifinal matchup 15-10 and 18-17. Koreans Lee Dong Soo and Yoo Yung Sung took out Eng Hian and Hermono of Indonesia with ease 15-3 and 15-7 to set up a rematch of last Sunday's Indonesian Open championship match against Sigit and Wijaya.

In the women's doubles semifinals, world champions and top-seeds Ge Fei and Gu Jun of China defeated teammates Huang Nanyan and Liu Zhong 15-8 and 15-7. The second seeds, Indarti Isoliana and Denyana Lomban of Indonesia, beat Yim Kyung Jin and Chung Jae Hee of Korea in a tight three-game affair.

The Indonesian pair took the first game 15-6, but the Koreans did not give up so easily in the second. Isoliana and Lomban had match points at 14-12 but Yim and Chung stroked their way to a 14-all tie.

In the tiebreak, Yim and Chung scored the needed three points to win the setting at 3-1 and the game at 17-15.

In the decider, Isoliana and Lomban raced to a large lead early and again had match points at 14-3. Again the Koreans came back to close the gap at 14-12, before Isoliana and Lomban were able to notch the final point and win at 15-12.

In the mixed doubles championship match played today, Bambang Suprianto and Riseu Rosalina of Indonesia defeated Olympic gold medalist Kim Dong Moon and his partner Park So Yun, both from Korea, 15-13 and 15-9. Suprianto, a top men's doubles specialist, was playing in the mixed doubles event of a major international tournament for only the second time.

Suprianto, aged 29, was part of one of Indonesia's top men's doubles pairs for several years until partner Rudy Gunawan retired after the Atlanta Olympic Games. Suprianto and Gunawan were very successful as a pair, winning many major titles including the All-England, Thailand, China and U.S. Open championships. Both were also key parts of Indonesia's successful Thomas and Sudirman Cup teams.

After Gunawan's retirement, Suprianto had been at loose ends, unable to find a top-caliber partner. When Indonesia's mixed doubles pairs came away from the recent world championships in Glasgow with only a bronze medal, the coaching staff decided to field new players and combinations. Bambang, a powerful jumpsmasher and backcourt player, was invited to try his hand at mixed doubles and coach Imelda Kurniawan paired him with Riseu who had been ranked in the world top ten with then-partner Flandy Nimpele.

The Bambang-Riseu combination has clicked quickly, winning the Bumpitera (Jakarta) International in early July, then last week gaining the finals of the Indonesian Open, and now taking the Konica Cup - Singapore Open championship.

(jpcf/mig)