BADMINTON: Hot Arbi hits his best form

BADMINTON

BY JAMES LEIGH

The world No1, Heryanto Arbi, made up for two stunning defeats in the last two months when he won the world title for the first time with a 15-11, 15-8 victory over the Asian champion, Park Sung-Woo, in the men's' singles final in Lausanne yesterday.

The dynamic Indonesian overwhelmed the Korean with his speed of reflex in the close exchanges and the athletic power of his smashing.

China failed to win the women's doubles title for the first time since 1983 but regained the women's singles through Ye Zhaoying, the world No 6, who upset the title holder and Olympic champion, Susi Susanti, in the semi-finals. Ye beat her compatriot, Han Jingna, 11-6, 11-0 in a bloodless final.

Europe's only success came in the mixed doubles when Thomas Lund and Marlene Thomsen easily beat their Danish compatriots, Jens Eriksen and Helene Kirkegaard, to capture their 11th successive title.