All England set to test RI shuttlers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The All England Open Badminton Championships in
\nMarch will be a warm-up event for Indonesian shuttlers ahead of
\nthe Sudirman Cup and the World Championships in Glasgow,
\nScotland, both in May.<\/p>\n
Hadi Nasri, an official of the Badminton Association of
\nIndonesia, told The Jakarta Post and Kompas yesterday that some
\nnational players are hoping to improve their world rankings at
\nthe All England, thereby gaining entry to the World
\nChampionships.<\/p>\n
\"We are focusing them on the Sudirman Cup and the World
\nChampionship,\" Hadi added. \"Let's see how they can deal with the
\npressure.\"<\/p>\n
The biennial Sudirman Cup team event, which has been held
\nsince 1989, has been won by China since 1991. Indonesia is aiming
\nto take it back.<\/p>\n
Hadi said that the people are still dreaming of watching their
\nshuttlers win the All England, especially after the national
\nsquad won the Asia Cup last week.<\/p>\n
\"Hari (Hariyanto Arbi) is getting better after being absent
\nfor several months and Indra (Wijaya) is becoming the country's
\nyoung hope,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hari, who earlier was sidelined for months by a knee injury,
\nwon the India Open tournament in January, while Indra led the
\nIndonesian team to victory over Malaysia in the just-concluded
\nAsia Cup.<\/p>\n
Coach Indra Gunawan expressed confidence that this year's All
\nEngland result would be better than last year's.<\/p>\n
None of Indonesia's men's shuttlers reached the semifinals
\nlast year, while the female athletes failed to reach the finals.
\nHari won the last title for Indonesia in 1994. Since then,
\nOlympic gold medalist Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen of Denmark has won
\nthe title twice in a row.<\/p>\n
Indra Gunawan is optimistic that at least one of national
\nmen's shuttlers would reach the final of the championship, which
\nwill take place in Birmingham between March 11 and March 16.<\/p>\n
\"This year, we have eight male shuttlers at the All England.
\nWe hopeful that one of them--whoever it is--will make it to the
\nfinal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Old hands Joko Suprianto, newly-wed Alan Budikusuma, Ardy B.
\nWiranata, Hariyanto and juniors Indra Wijaya, Jeffer Rosobin,
\nBudi Santoso and Salim will leave for the tournament in March 8.<\/p>\n
Alan's bride Susi Susanti and the country's great new hope Mia
\nAudina will also take part in the All England. Yuliani Sentosa,
\nwho was relegated from the Badminton Training Center in November,
\nwill also take part at her own expense.<\/p>\n
The association will send its strongest doubles, including
\nOlympic gold medalists Ricky Subagja\/Rexy Mainaky, Olympic bronze
\nmedalists Antonius\/Denny Kantono and the rising stars Chandra
\nWijaya\/Sigit Budiarto. It will also send women's doubles
\nEliza\/Zelin Resiana and mixed doubles Tri Kusherjanto\/Minarti
\nTimur. (yan)<\/p>",
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