Champions fail to live up to reputation

BADMINTON

The world champion lost his title and the Olympic champion lost his chance of succeeding him on another day of surprises at the World Championships in Lausanne yesterday, writes James Leigh.

Joko Suprianto, who delighted spectators with his fluid play and his pleasing personality when he became world champion in Birmingham in 1993, was outplayed in the quarter-finals by his younger Indonesian compatriot Heryanto Arbi, who won 15-7, 15-8.

Arbi, the world No 1, lost his All-England title two months ago and was also beaten in the World team final six days ago.

But now he was confident in his ability to impose a more athletic game upon the champion and also being able to vary his attack.

Five minutes later another Indonesian Allan Budi Kusuma, who won the gold medal in Barcelona three years ago, was brought down 18-14, 15-9 by the fifth-seeded Korean, Park Sung-Woo.