Date:23/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/23/stories/2006092308311900.htm

Sport - Badminton

Hong shocks Hidayat

MADRID: Chen Hong of China eliminated defending champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia 14-21, 21-18, 21-19 in the men's third round of the World badminton championships on Thursday.To add to Indonesia's frustrations, mixed doubles champions and top seeds Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir also crashed out against Malaysia's Koo Kien Keat and Wong Pei Tty 21-15, 18-21, 22-20.

The mixed doubles defeat of Natsir and Widianto was a boost for Commonwealth champions Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms, who beat Zheng Bo and Bao Tingting 21-14, 21-16 to reach the quarterfinals.

The Olympic silver medallists rallied from 5-1 down in the second game to become the first players to beat Chinese opposition in Madrid. China's 17 players had won 30 matches at the championships.

``There isn't a much better feeling than beating a Chinese pair and we hope to beat another in these championships,'' Robertson said.

The results: Men (third round): Chen Hong (Chn) bt Taufik Hidayat (Indo) 14-21, 21-18, 21-19. — Agencies