China vows to clinch Sudirman Cup title<\/p>\n
This article concludes an evaluation on the skills of players
\ncompeting in the Sudirman Cup mixed team championships next week.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion China is eying a hat trick in
\nthe Sudirman Cup mixed team championships to decisively mark a
\nreturn to supremacy in the badminton world.<\/p>\n
Having won the last two tournaments, China will parade its
\nbest players to reach the semifinals as the Group B winner.
\nIndonesia, one of two teams which stand between China and the
\ntitle, is expected to finish second in the round robin group
\ncompetition and make it to the cross-over semifinals.<\/p>\n
The other team in the group, Malaysia, which qualified for the
\nevent at the expense of England, is entering the tournament as a
\npart timer and lacks a realistic chance of reaching the final
\nfour.<\/p>\n
China will begin the defense of the title against Malaysia on
\nMonday and will meet Indonesia on Tuesday. Indonesia will take on
\nMalaysia on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Chinese men's singles player Sun Jun, who has been under fire
\nfor his unimpressive performance in the past two years, will lead
\nChina's campaign. His latest victory -- over world number one
\nPeter Gade Christensen of Denmark in the Grand Prix Finals in
\nBrunei Darussalam in February -- proved he is on the comeback
\ntrail.<\/p>\n
Dong Jiong, the Asian Games gold medalist, is ranked second to
\nSun at home, but he could be the key to victory for the Chinese
\nteam.<\/p>\n
China's women's singles team have geared up for the event
\nwithout coach Li Lingwei, who suddenly resigned after the Asian
\nGames last December. Her assistant Tang Xue Hwa took over.<\/p>\n
Li's exit appeared to have no effect on China's performance,
\nas six of its women's singles players -- Ye Zhaoying, Gong Ruina,
\nDai Yun, Zhang Ning, Zhou Mi and Gong Zhichao -- are ranked among
\nthe top 16.<\/p>\n
In the women's doubles, China has the two world class pairs of
\nHuang Nanyan\/Yang Wei and Ge Fei\/Gu Jun.<\/p>\n
But China is not strong enough in the men's doubles. Its best
\ntandem of Zhang Wei and Zhang Jun is only ninth in the latest
\nworld ranking. Also on the decline are former world number one
\nmixed doubles pair of Liu Yong and Ge Fei, who are currently
\nranked eighth.<\/p>\n
Strongest<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the winner of the inaugural event, will be China's
\nstrongest opponent in the group, despite the poor preparations at
\nhome for the tournament. Complaints were lodged at the Badminton
\nAssociation of Indonesia (PBSI) for its decision to set up a
\nrigorous training program to address players' poor physical
\nfitness.<\/p>\n
Men's singles Hendrawan, however, said he was highly motivated
\nto win the event.<\/p>\n
\"After winning the silver at the Asian Games, I enjoyed my
\nlife very much. I realize that without hard work, it's impossible
\nto attain my best form.\"<\/p>\n
Hendrawan will be accompanied by the 1999 All England
\nfinalist, Taufik Hidayat.<\/p>\n
Taufik almost spoilt Indonesia's preparations for the Sudirman
\nCup when he threatened to stay at home if his coach, Mulyo
\nHandoyo, was dropped from the contingent. The PBSI agreed to his
\ndemand.<\/p>\n
\"My coach is the only person who knows me on and off the
\ncourt,\" Taufik argued.<\/p>\n
By contrast, Indonesia's women's singles players appear
\ngloomy. Mia Audina, who is ranked 11th in the world and
\novershadows her compatriots, skipped the event after her mother
\ndied. Her replacements, Cindana, Lidya Djaelawidjaja and Ellen
\nAngelina, said they were doubtful of their potential.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is also facing injury problems in the women's
\ndoubles. Elysa Nathanael, who is still recovering from a right
\nknee injury, will leave her regular partner, Deyana Lomban, to
\nteam up with Indarti Issolina. Elysa and Deyana won the Asian
\nGames silver.<\/p>\n
Men's doubles will be Indonesia's only trump card, having four
\nof the best pairs in the world. They are Antonius Arianto\/Denny
\nKantono, Flandy Limpele\/Eng Hian, Candra Wijaya\/Tony Gunawan and
\nthe veteran pair of Ricky Subagja\/Rexy Mainaky, the Olympic
\nchampions.<\/p>\n
In the mixed doubles, Tri Kusherjanto and his long-time
\npartner Minarti Timur are expected to perform their best.
\nIndonesia has named the tandem of Bambang Suprianto and Zelin
\nResiana as reserves.<\/p>\n
Underdog<\/p>\n
Malaysia may enter the tournament as an underdog, due to the
\nabsence of world class women's shuttlers, but the presence of top
\nmen's singles Rashid Sidek will give it a morale boost.<\/p>\n
Utusan Melayu reported Rashid had put national interests
\nbefore his dispute with the Badminton Association of Malaysia
\n(BAM).<\/p>\n
\"I will seek optimum chances to contribute something for my
\ncountry. It's most likely my last opportunity,\" said the 31-year-
\nold shuttler.<\/p>\n
Malaysia also risks losing the doubles event. Cheah Soon Kit,
\nthe 1996 Olympic silver medalist with Yap Kim Hock, could not
\nresolve communication problems with new partner Chong Tang Fook.
\nThey have reportedly not talked to each other in weeks.<\/p>\n
BAM has called on Kim Hock to intervene in the dispute between
\nthe two. Kim Hock asked for one week, which ends on May 7, to
\nsolve the problem.<\/p>\n
\"I am worried about them. They don't have to spend time
\ntogether and talk, but simple communication on court and gestures
\nto encourage each other is good enough,\" Kim Hock told The Star.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's Danish coach, Morten Frost Hansen, said: \"I don't
\nwant to comment about the two players because I think both of
\nthem should deal with it.\" (yan)<\/p>",
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