Indonesia to face another Chinese test<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A weakened Indonesian side is facing treacherous
\nopposition from a rejuvenated China in the Asia Cup badminton
\nchampionships in Qing Dao, next week.<\/p>\n
The Badminton Association of Indonesia has rested world
\nchampion Hariyanto Arbi and out-of-form Susi Susanti for the June
\n14-18 event, adding to Indonesia's major absentees list.<\/p>\n
With Ardy Wiranata, Olympic gold medalist Alan Budikusuma and
\nworld doubles champions Rexy Mainaky and Ricky Subagja also
\nmissing from the tournament, the Indonesian men's team will rely
\non old-crack Joko Suprianto and Hermawan Susanto.<\/p>\n
All-England runners-up Gunawan and Bambang Suprianto serve as
\nsubstitutes for Ricky and Rexy and are Indonesia's sole hopefuls
\nin the men's doubles.<\/p>\n
Mia Audina, a quarterfinalist in the world championships, will
\nhave to struggle alone in the women's singles against an
\ninvincible Chinese team, spearheaded by world champion Ye
\nZhaoying and her runner-up Han Jingna.<\/p>\n
In the mixed doubles, Trikus Heryanto and Minarti Timur will
\nbe seeking their first title of the year and an end to their
\nlosing streak.<\/p>\n
\"Hariyanto and Susi have yet to recover after long and tense
\ncompetition,\" Iwan Setiawan, of the association, said. \"Their
\nabsence is also a part of our energy saving strategy prior to the
\nOlympic Games in Atlanta next year,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Favorite Indonesia fell to China 1-3 in the last hurdle at the
\nSudirman Cup mixed team championship in Lausanne, Switzerland.
\nThe spirited Chinese took a winning 3-0 lead on their way to
\ntheir first championship title.<\/p>\n
Iwan hinted that Indonesia is relying on its men's and women's
\nsingles and men's doubles for the gold medal race in the 1996
\nOlympics badminton competition. Badminton will offer five golds
\nwhen it makes its second appearance at the Olympics.<\/p>\n
Hariyanto, smarting from his shocking defeat to Sun Jun in the
\nSudirman Cup final, overcame Asia champion Park Sung-woo in the
\nworld championships. The 23-year-old player now tightens his grip
\non the top of the latest world rankings, as issued by the
\nInternational Badminton Federation on Monday.<\/p>\n
Worst<\/p>\n
Susi, in contrast, capped her worst ever performance when she
\ncrashed to Ye in the world championships semifinals, her second
\nloss to the same player within just a week.<\/p>\n
To add insult to injury, Susi hands in her number one tag,
\nthat she has held since 1992, to Bang Soo-hyun of South Korea.
\nAsian Games champion Bang joined Susi as surprising casualties in
\nthe world championships semifinals.<\/p>\n
\"We failed in the world championships. I'm so sorry about
\nthat,\" Iwan, who was the Indonesian team manager to the biennial
\ntournament, said.<\/p>\n
Earlier Indonesia had set a target of winning back the
\nSudirman Cup mixed team trophy, as well as three titles in the
\nworld championships.<\/p>\n
Iwan criticized his own team for being uninformed about their
\nopponents and having no time to regroup both its players and
\ncoaches.<\/p>\n
\"From now on we will involve players when coaches give their
\nevaluation to the players' performance,\" said Iwan 9(amd).<\/p>\n
Latest IBF rankings<\/p>\n
Women's singles<\/p>\n
1. Bang Soo-hyun (Kor) 325.53pts<\/p>\n
2. Susi Susanti (Ina) 323.38<\/p>\n
3. Ye Zhaoying (Chn) 283.09<\/p>\n
4. Lim Xiaoqing (Swe) 263.07<\/p>\n
5. Camilla Martin (Den) 239.88<\/p>\n
6. Mia Audina (Ina) 237.49<\/p>\n
7. Ra Kyung-min (Kor) 236.71<\/p>\n
8. Han Jingna (Chn) 210.01<\/p>\n
9. Yuliani Sentosa (Ina) 176.69
\n 10. Yao Yan (Chn) 174.27<\/p>\n
Men's singles<\/p>\n
1. Hariyanto Arbi (Ina) 332.45<\/p>\n
2. Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen (Den) 264.48<\/p>\n
3. Ardy Wiranata (Ina) 247.04<\/p>\n
4. Hermawan Susanto (Ina) 241.70<\/p>\n
5. Park Sung-woo (Kor) 241.58<\/p>\n
6. Alan Budikusuma (Ina) 241.14<\/p>\n
7. Joko Suprianto (Ina) 235.08<\/p>\n
8. Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen (Den) 224.72<\/p>\n
9. Sun Jun (Chn) 201.86
\n 10. Lee Kwan-jin (Kor) 198.72<\/p>",
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