Shuttlers gear up for Asian Badminton Championship<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Olympic gold medalists Candra Wijaya and Tony
\nGunawan will split as Indonesia relies on young players in its
\nbid to regain its pride at the US$150,000 JVC Asian Badminton
\nChampionship here this week.<\/p>\n
Candra will team up with Antonius Irianto, with a possible
\nshowdown against top seeds Chong Tan Fook\/Lee Wan Wah of Malaysia
\nstanding between them and the final berth.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Tony will have former Olympic champion Rexy Mainaky
\non his side. The pair are due to meet third seeds Ma Che Kong\/Yau
\nKwon Yuen of Hong Kong in the quarterfinals and if they pass the
\ntest they could face another seeded pair, Kittipon
\nKitikul\/Khunakorn Sudhisodhi of Thailand in the semifinals.<\/p>\n
\"The separation enables us to play more relaxed because we
\ndon't have to worry about the results or world rankings,\" Candra
\ntold The Jakarta Post on Sunday.<\/p>\n
A defeat in the tournament may cost Candra and Tony their
\nworld number one ranking.<\/p>\n
There will be 150 shuttlers from 18 countries participating in
\nthe championship, to be played at the Senayan Indoor Stadium
\nstarting on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Candra was speaking on the sidelines of a gathering with
\nbadminton fans at Plaza Atrium Senen, Central Jakarta. Also
\npresent were Tony and men's singles player Taufik Hidayat.<\/p>\n
\"I can't promise much but I hope to see Candra and Antonius in
\nthe final match,\" said Tony.<\/p>\n
As for Taufik, he said he did not set a certain target in the
\nchampionship.<\/p>\n
\"It's time for me to collect as much money as possible. My
\ntarget is over,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will rely on young players in the men's singles as
\nHendrawan, the world number one, is absent after losing in the
\nDanish Open.<\/p>\n
Taufik will be the backbone of the national men's singles team
\ntogether with Marleve Mainaky, Jefer Rosobin, Rony Agustinus,
\nYudi Suprayogi, and Arief Rasidi.<\/p>\n
Top seed Taufik looks like having no trouble in getting to the
\nquarterfinals, where he is due to meet eighth seed Park Tae-sang
\nof South Korea.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, second seed Wong Choon Han is likely to meet Lee
\nHyun-il of South Korea in the final eight round, which also
\nexpects to see China's best bet Lou Yigang play third seed
\nMarleve.<\/p>\n
In the women's singles, Indonesia will be represented by
\nsecond seed Lidya Djaelawidjaja, Cindana Hartono, Ellen Angelina,
\nand Yuli Marfuah. Lidya is tipped to reach the final to meet top
\nseed Lee Kyung-won of South Korea.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's best women's doubles team of Etty Tanri and Cyntia
\nTuwankotta are the top seeds. The new pair of Deyana
\nLomban\/Carmelita is expected to meet second seeds Lee Hyo
\nJung\/Yim Kyung Jin from South Korea in the semifinals.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the world mixed double team No. 1 Minarti Timur\/Tri
\nKusharyanto will also be separated, so the top seed will be Wahyu
\nAgung\/Emma Ermawati. Minarti will have Bambang Suprianto as her
\nnew partner.<\/p>\n
Danish Open<\/p>\n
In Copenhagen, top seeds Flandy Limpele\/Eng Hian saved
\nIndonesia embarrassment by winning the men's doubles crown at the
\nDanish Open on Sunday. They beat second seeds Jens Eriksen\/Jesper
\nLarsen of Denmark 15-13, 15-10 in the final, Satusport.com online
\nnews provider reported.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, home favorite Peter Gade Christensen beat George
\nRimarcdi, an Indonesian who plays for Sweden, 15-11, 15-12 in
\ntheir men's singles final. Earlier, George upset Hendrawan in the
\nsemifinal 15-9, 15-2.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Saturday, Danes Michael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen won
\nthe mixed doubles title after defeating compatriots Mette
\nSchjoldager and Jens Eriksen 15-10, 8-15, 15-10. (nvn)<\/p>",
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