Indons sustain romp but Chinese unfazed

Sudirman Cup veteran Adriyanti Firdasari and the top two mixed doubles pairs of Lilyana Natsir-Nova Widianto and Vita Marissa-Flandy Limpele came away with straight-set victories over their respective rivals yesterday as Indonesia threatened to dominate the 2007 Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton Championships at the Philsports Arena.

Firdasari, a Jakarta native ranked 50th in the world, smothered top qualifier Yihan Wang of China with her power and speed to fashion out a 21-14, 21-16 victory in 28 minutes in the ladies singles and lead the Indons’ march into the weekend play of the $120,000 championship.

With the top seeded pair of Natsir and Widianto and the second ranked team of Marissa and Limpele also advancing to the semis of the mixed doubles, the Indons looked headed for an explosive finish with five more pairs vying in the men’s and women’s doubles and Sony Kuncoro fighting for a berth in men’s singles at presstime.

But the Chinese are out to stop the Indons on their tracks as Zhu Jingjing, a 22-year-old shuttler from Wuhan, primed up for her duel with Firdasari with an equally impressive 21-10, 21-13 victory over Anna Rice of Canada.

Late in the day, top seed Chen Hong of China found his toughest match thus far but prevailed over Taufik Hidayat’s tormentor – Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam – just the same, 17-21, 21-19, 21-15, to clinch the first semis seat in men’s singles.

Firdasari, whose last victory came in the 2006 Dutch Open, said she’s in tip-top form and hopes to reign in their side of the event, which offers $8,280 to the champion.

“I’m playing well, had better footwork and I hope I continue to win,” said Firdasari, who dropped out of the first round in last year’s inaugural of this event sponsored by Bingo Bonanza Corp. and organized by IMG.

Zhu, who continued to flourish after bundling out last year’s champion Saina Nehwal of India, 21-15, 21-13, in the first round, said she’s unfazed of her taller Indon rival.

“She’s tall but I’m quicker,” said Zhu through an interpreter.

The semifinal round, to be aired live on Solar Sports and RPN-9, starts at 2 p.m. today.

German Juliane Schenk booted out the last seeded bet in ladies singles, outplaying No. 6 Pui Yin Yip of Hong Kong, 17-21, 21-19, 21-13, to set up a semis clash with another Hong Kong bet, Mi Zhou, who swept Japan’s Hirayama Yu, 21-17, 21-14, in the lower bracket.

Earlier, Natsir and Widianto held off compatriots Lita Nurlita and Devin Lahardi Fitrinawan, 21-17, 21-17, to clinch the first semis seat in the mixed doubles.