Injury forces Hariyanto to quit World Cup c'ship<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Top seed and defending men's singles champion
\nHariyanto Arbi pulled out of the World Cup badminton
\nchampionships yesterday with an injury that threatens Indonesia's
\ncampaign for a clean sweep.<\/p>\n
Hariyanto gave in to his chronic hamstring injury during a
\nmorning practice at the Senayan indoor stadium, the venue for the
\nUS$180,000 tournament, on the eve of his group opening match
\nagainst Lee Mi Chow of Chinese Taipei.<\/p>\n
\"It's such a terrible pain that I cannot take it,\" world
\nchampion Hariyanto grinned as he limped off the court. \"It
\nreminds me of the same strain I suffered in the Indonesia Open
\nover a month ago,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hariyanto was forced out of the Indonesia Open semifinals by
\nthe same injury when he played eventual champion Ardy Wiranata.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, however, keeps its chance to seize the men's
\nsingles crown wide open by letting former world number one Joko
\nSuprianto in.<\/p>\n
\"We have no other choice but Joko. He's the most well-prepared
\nplayer for the tournament,\" Iwan Setiawan, training director of
\nthe Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI), said yesterday.<\/p>\n
According to the world badminton rankings used to determine
\nthe players eligible for the invitational tournament, U.S. Open
\nchampion Hermawan Susanto should have taken Hariyanto's place.<\/p>\n
\"No, we have our own considerations. Joko is fresher than
\nHermawan,\" said Iwan. Joko has been out of his best form this
\nseason, but managed to win the Asia Cup in Beijing and Singapore
\nOpen and reach the Indonesia Open final.<\/p>\n
Hermawan, runner-up to Joko in the 1993 World Championships,
\nrose to number two on the latest world rankings behind Hariyanto,
\nthanks to his U.S. Open victory. He is now playing in the
\nprovincial games in Serang, West Java, and is scheduled to take
\non fellow member of national squad George Richmardi in today's
\nfinal.<\/p>\n
Women's doubles<\/p>\n
Injuries also threaten Indonesia's dreams of clinching the
\nwomen's doubles as Lili Tampi will bring her stomach problem with
\nher on court.<\/p>\n
\"I'm not sure about winning the title,\" Lili said. She will
\nteam up with her regular partner Finarsih in the Group A round-
\nrobin matches.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian number one women's pair crashed out in the
\nfirst round of the Indonesia Open to Japanese minnows, Akiko and
\nAiko Miyamura.<\/p>\n
\"Lili and Finarsih desperately need a win to restore their
\nstatus,\" national coach Indra Gunawan said. \"They should take
\nadvantage of the absence of their Chinese and South Korean
\nfoes,\" he added.<\/p>\n
World champions Gil Young-ah and Jang Hye-ock of South Korea
\nand their runners-up Ge Fei and Gu Jun skipped the tournament
\nhere.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is also relying on rising stars Eliza and Zelin
\nResiana.<\/p>\n
The five-day tournament kicks off today, with new top seed
\nArdy starting his campaign against Ong Ewe Hock of Malaysia in
\ntheir Group B match. Women's singles top seed Susi Susanti will
\nalso return after taking a full month's rest, playing Yasuko
\nMizui of Japan. (amd)<\/p>",
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