Hoyer-Larsen worrying about Bali's weather<\/p>\n
NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): Dane Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen sees the
\nBalinese weather as his main problem at the Lipton Grand Prix
\nBadminton Finals here.<\/p>\n
\"If I play well I should be able to reach the semifinals but
\nI'll play patiently because of the high humidity,\" he told
\nreporters yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"I'm not really used to the humidity yet. But if I can reach
\nthe semifinals I'll have a 40 to 50 percent chance to win,\" the
\nOlympic gold medalist said.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old Hoyer-Larsen is in the same group as
\nIndonesians Alan Budikusuma, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist,
\nrookie Budi Santoso, the 1996 Indonesia Open finalist, and Hu
\nZhiland of China.<\/p>\n
\"I think I have a chance to beat Alan and then I can reach the
\nsemifinals,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He beat Alan at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.<\/p>\n
Hoyer-Larsen, who is moving to England due to the 68 percent
\ntaxation in his country, predicted that Dong Jiong of China and
\ndefending champion Joko Suprianto of Indonesia will probably
\ncontest the final.<\/p>\n
\"I saw Dong and Joko in the Thailand Open, where Dong won the
\nfinal last month. If Dong can take the humidity and the warmth,
\nhe is the top favorite,\" Hoyer-Larsen said.<\/p>\n
\"But if he can't handle it, then it would be Joko,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The US$350,000 tournament is being staged at the Juana Mandala
\nStadium in the center of Bali's capital Denpasar, which is
\nlocated about 40km away from the players' hotel. Both the
\nofficials and players are staying at Hilton Hotel in Nusa Dua.<\/p>\n
Hoyer-Larsen said that his tight schedule is forcing him to
\nskip the Sanyo World Cup Badminton Championship in Jakarta, next
\nweek.<\/p>\n
\"I have to play in the China Masters from Dec. 17 to Dec. 23,
\nand after Christmas I'll play in the Copenhagen Masters. In
\nJanuary, I'll play at the Taiwan Open and Japan Open
\nchampionships,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"If I have to play in the World Cup, it means that by mid-
\nJanuary I would have played a tournament every week for six
\nweeks, and that's too much,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hoyer-Larsen said that he had to decide between playing in the
\nWorld Cup or the China Masters.<\/p>\n
\"I did not show up at the China Open in October and so I
\nagreed to show up at the China Masters. It's a matter of
\npolitical reasoning,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hoyer-Larsen was surprised when he learned his picture was
\nprinted on the World Cup posters.<\/p>\n
\"I haven't confirmed my participation in the World Cup. But I
\ntold the Danish Badminton Association one month ago and they
\nshould have informed Indonesia or the organizers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I'm really sorry. I do feel sorry...\" he said repeatedly.<\/p>\n
Hoyer-Larsen, who wants to defend his title at the 2000
\nOlympics in Sydney, said that he always has stomach problems
\nwhenever he performs in Jakarta but does not have similar
\ntroubles here.<\/p>\n
He also said that the fans in Jakarta, who are known for their
\nfanatic cheering, are a support.<\/p>\n
\"I love the supporters in Indonesia and Malaysia. We miss that
\nkind of supporter in Europe. In Denmark and Germany, our
\nsupporters only show up for the big tournaments,\" he said. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hoyer-larsen-worrying-about-balis-weather-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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