Indonesian shuttlers chasing Olympic slots<\/p>\n
Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesian shuttlers are preparing to compete in the US$50,000
\nThailand Open, with the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
\nconcerned about its athletes' chances of qualifying for the 2004
\nOlympics.<\/p>\n
To be held from Jan. 20 to Jan. 25, the two-star Thailand
\ntournament is one of those on the International Badminton
\nFederation (IBF)'s calender that provides points for Olympic
\nqualification.<\/p>\n
Christian Hadinata, director of the national training center,
\nsaid the tournament would provide an opportunity for the
\nshuttlers to collect points to boost their chance of Olympic
\nqualification.<\/p>\n
\"The players must get enough points to qualify. We'll know in
\nApril how many points are needed. Therefore, the PBSI will try to
\nmake the best of even the lower-grade competitions,\" Christian
\ntold The Jakarta Post here on Monday.<\/p>\n
The PBSI will send about 25 players to Bangkok. Most of them
\nare second-layer athletes from the Cipayung national training
\ncenter.<\/p>\n
\"We could send them to higher-grade competitions, but they
\nwould have a slim chance of winning points,\" Christian said.<\/p>\n
Sony Dwi Kuncoro, who won a gold medal at the Southeast Asian
\n(SEA) Games in Vietnam last December, is not among those
\nshuttlers heading to Bangkok. The two-time Asian champion is
\npreparing for the three-star Swiss Open in March.<\/p>\n
Sony's absence will give his younger teammates Simon Santosa,
\nAndre Kurniawan and Wiempie Mahardi the opportunity to prove
\nthemselves.<\/p>\n
Also to be missing in Bangkok will be veteran pair Flandy
\nLimpele\/Eng Hian, who will take part in the US$80,000 Swiss Open
\nas well as the US$125,000 All-England tournament.<\/p>\n
The Korea Open and the Asian Championships are another two
\ntournaments with Olympic points up for grabs.<\/p>\n
The men's pair of Candra Wijaya\/Halim Haryanto, who just
\nreturned from their victorious run in the Copenhagen Master at
\nthe end of December, are the only big-name players scheduled to
\nplay in Bangkok.<\/p>\n
Christian said he expected Candra\/Halim, as well as Luluk
\nHadiyanto\/Alven Yulianto and the women's doubles pair of Jo
\nNovita\/Lita Nurlita, to secure Olympic qualification points in
\nThailand.<\/p>\n
Jo\/Lita will be joined in Bangkok by the newly paired Lyliana
\nNatsir\/Rintan Aprilia.<\/p>\n
Markis Kido\/Hendra Setiawan and Hendra Apriadi Gunawan\/Joko
\nRiyadi are among the young Indonesian pairs who have also been
\nincluded on the team.<\/p>\n
About Simon, who helped Indonesia win the team event at the
\nSEA Games, Christian said: \"It's a long way for Simon to qualify
\nfor the Olympics. However, he might still be able to make it.\"<\/p>\n
Other Indonesians making the trip to Bangkok are Anggun
\nNugroho\/Eny Widyowati, Mohammad Rizal\/Nelli Triana and Titon
\nGustaman\/Lelyana Daisy Chandra in the mixed doubles.<\/p>\n
PBSI will not be sending any women's singles players to
\nThailand after their disappointing performance in Vietnam,
\nChristian said.<\/p>\n
\"They will concentrate on their training at home before
\nparticipating in any competitions,\" he said.<\/p>",
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