China to compete in Indonesia Open<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Chinese badminton players are expected to
\ncompete in the annual Indonesia Open in July after being absent
\nfor the last three years.<\/p>\n
Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) secretary-general
\nLeo Chandra Wiranata said on Wednesday that executive secretary
\nof the Badminton Association of China Bao Tong had confirmed the
\npresence of Chinese players.<\/p>\n
\"Bao told me on Tuesday evening that China would send Sun Jun,
\nthe 1999 world champion, and other shuttlers playing for England,
\nThailand and Hong Kong. They have requested extra rooms and we
\nwill fulfill their request ,\" he said, adding he still had no
\nidea of the number of extra rooms to be given to the Chinese
\ncontingent.<\/p>\n
China has not competed at the Indonesia Open since 1997 due to
\nsecurity concerns. With the upcoming Olympic Games in Sydney in
\nSeptember, there remain four International Badminton Federation
\n(IBF) grand prix series tournaments: the three-star Thailand
\nOpen, the five-star Indonesia Open, the three-star Singapore Open
\nand the five-star Malaysia Open.<\/p>\n
\"The perfect tournament for the Chinese to compete in is the
\nIndonesia Open if they want to improve their world rankings
\nbefore the closing date for the Olympic seeding,\" Leo said.<\/p>\n
\"The Malaysia Open is too close to the Olympics and I think
\nEuropean countries will skip it.\"<\/p>\n
Denmark, Sweden, England, Wales and the Netherlands have
\nconfirmed their participation in the tournament at the Senayan
\nTennis Indoor Stadium from July 19 to July 23.<\/p>\n
World number one Peter Gade Christensen of Denmark and his
\ngirlfriend Camilla Martin will participate in the tournament.<\/p>\n
Defending champion Taufik Hidayat has said he would be
\ndisappointed should Chinese shuttlers miss the event.<\/p>\n
\"The competition is not tough enough without Chinese players.
\nI know Peter Gade is the favorite but it will be different if the
\nChinese compete,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Leo also said he hoped that South Korean big names in men's
\ndoubles would also play. World number two Kim Dong-moon and Ha
\nTae-kwon and world number three Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong-sung
\nare expected to challenge world number one Candra Wijaya and Tony
\nGunawan of Indonesia at the event, in which Indonesia are
\nfavorites. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/china-to-compete-in-indonesia-open-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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