PBSI regrets IBF decision on GP Finals<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
\nsaid it regretted the International Badminton Federation (IBF)'s
\ndecision to postpone the 2000 World Grand Prix Finals, which were
\ndue to be held in Brunei starting on March 28.<\/p>\n
\"PBSI will not file a protest with the IBF but we deeply
\nregret the cancellation because it creates a poor image for world
\nbadminton,\" PBSI secretary-general Leo Chandra Wiranata said on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
\"I wonder how the badminton world body could make such a
\nmistake. But perhaps the postponement was because of a lack of
\nsponsorship.\"<\/p>\n
IBF announced last week that it was delaying the event. It
\nsaid the action was being taken because \"a number of key elements
\nare not in place, the short time left to make the final
\npreparations and on the advice of the Brunei Badminton
\nAssociation\".<\/p>\n
The tournament was successfully held in Brunei in 1999 and
\n2000, and is unlikely to take place until August at the earliest,
\nthe IBF said.<\/p>\n
\"The 2000 event should have been held last November but the
\nhost delayed it until February because of sponsorship problems
\nbefore delaying it again to March,\" said Leo.<\/p>\n
\"The organizers said the sponsors were still in doubt when it
\nannounced the first postponement. IBF is likely to fine the
\nBrunei Badminton Association US$1,5000 because of the delay.\"<\/p>\n
Leo also said Indonesia was ready to organize the tournament,
\nbut not to finance it.<\/p>\n
\"PBSI is ready to hold it here if IBF asks. But we are in no
\nposition to be responsible for the financial matters. We would
\nneed some $400,000 to cover transportation and lodging for
\nathletes, tournament officials and IBF officials, as well as the
\nprize money.<\/p>\n
\"It is also quite strange that IBF has yet to announce a new
\nhost considering the continuous delays,\" Leo said.<\/p>\n
He also said the 2001 Grand Prix Final would be held in
\nDecember, but the venue had yet to be decided.<\/p>\n
Swiss Open<\/p>\n
After a disappointing performance in the All England, Roslin
\nHashim of Malaysia managed to end his three-year title drought by
\nwinning the Swiss Open.<\/p>\n
Roslin defeated Lee Tsuen Seng 1-7, 7-4, 7-4, 7-0 in an all-
\nMalaysian final.<\/p>\n
Malaysia had not won a Grand Prix title since Yong Hock Kin
\nbagged the Indonesia Open crown back in 1998. Runner-up Lee
\nproved the giant killer of this four-star tournament, ousting
\nthree seeds -- Colin Haughton, Richard Vaughan and Taufik Hidayat
\n-- along the way, as reported by www.swissopen.com.<\/p>\n
China's Pi Hongyan emerged victorious in the women's singles
\nevent, enjoying an easy 7-2, 7-1, 7-5 win over Xu Huaiwen,
\nrepresenting Germany, to claim her second ever Grand Prix title,
\nher first being at the US Open in 1999.<\/p>\n
The top seeded Danish duo of Helene Kirkegaard and Rikke Olsen
\nproved no match for South Korea's new partnership of Ra Kyung-min
\nand Lee Kyung-won in the women's doubles, with the Danes losing
\nin four games 7-3, 8-6, 2-7, 7-4.<\/p>\n
In fact, none of the top seeds walked away with a title --
\nJens Eriksen and Jesper Larsen lost to Michael Sogaard and Jim
\nLaugesen 4-7, 7-2, 1-7, 7-1, 7-3 in the men's doubles final, and
\nSogaard failed to make it two titles with Rikke Olsen in the
\nmixed event.<\/p>\n
They lost to second seeded compatriots Jens Eriksen and Mette
\nSchjoldager 7-4, 2-7, 7-5, 7-2, who claimed their first ever
\nGrand Prix title together. (nvn)<\/p>",
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