Ex-champ Icuk wants to see Mia win Indonesia Open<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's best hope, Mia Audina, will end her
\ntitle drought in the US$120,000 Sanyo Indonesia Open Badminton
\nChampionships, after her chief rivals have opted out, former
\nworld champion Icuk Sugiarto has predicted.<\/p>\n
\"It's the right time for Mia to win the annual event, thanks
\nto the absence of several top players,\" Icuk said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Defending women's singles champion Susi Susanti has withdrawn
\nbecause she is pregnant, and Denmark's world number three Camilla
\nMartin was forced out due to \"administrative mistakes\".<\/p>\n
Chinese shuttlers have yet to confirm their participation at
\nthe event, which will take place at the Senayan Indoor Stadium
\nfrom Oct. 28 to Nov. 1.<\/p>\n
Last year, China skipped the tournament after its shuttlers
\nfailed to get visas to enter the country.<\/p>\n
Mia has been criticized for her poor form this season. Her
\ntrainers speculated that her relationship with boyfriend Tylio
\nLobman and her mother's illness have lessened her concentration.<\/p>\n
\"Mia won't see tough rivals in the event,\" said Icuk, who is
\nalso the Badminton Association of Indonesia's deputy chief in
\ncharge of talent scouting.<\/p>\n
In a related development, tournament director Juniarto
\nSuhandinata said that the organizers considered delaying the
\ndeadline for registration until Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He said the list of players would be given to the
\nInternational Badminton Federation before the draw is conducted.<\/p>\n
Icuk blamed Indonesia's political situation as the main factor
\npreventing other countries from sending their athletes.<\/p>\n
\"Consequently, the standard of the tournament will be no
\nbetter than a national championship. Some participating players
\ncould be worse than our juniors,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Shuttlers from Denmark, Poland, Malaysia, Nigeria, Brunei and
\nEngland have confirmed their participation.<\/p>\n
England will feature men's singles Mark Constables and the
\nmen's doubles team of Jan Pearson and John Quinn.<\/p>\n
Following the cancellation of Denmark's top singles players,
\nthe only Dutch player to have registered her entry is Judith
\nMeulendijks, and the Singaporean team has pulled out of the week-
\nlong tournament. (yan)<\/p>",
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