Susanti to make badminton farewell at Glasgow c'ship<\/p>\n
LONDON (Reuter): Susi Susanti, one of the sport's major
\nfigures, stages her likely swan-song at the world badminton
\nchampionships starting in Glasgow next week.<\/p>\n
Although notoriously coy about naming the exact retirement
\ndate, the Indonesian is in good enough form to exit on a winning
\nnote and begin married life proper with husband Alan Budikusuma.
\nBoth won gold medals at the 1992 Olympics but at home her trophy
\ncupboard is a shade larger than his and another world
\nchampionship medal would round it off nicely.<\/p>\n
Susi lost her Olympic title last year but went on to win two
\nbig championships and although she was a little disappointing at
\nthe All England in March, she can never be ruled out at major
\nevents.<\/p>\n
The style and technique are as sound and distinctive as ever
\nand if the spirit is willing few would bet large amounts against
\nher.<\/p>\n
The obvious danger is China's Ye Zhaoying, winner of the title
\ntwo years ago in Switzerland and back to form at the All Englands
\nwhere she overwhelmed young and nervous compatriot Gong Zhichao.<\/p>\n
But the day cannot be long delayed when a big prize falls to
\n17-year-old Olympic silver medallist Mia Audina, Susi's
\ncompatriot and a young lady touted as her successor for nearly
\nthree years.<\/p>\n
The burden of being seeded one seemed to weigh heavily on her
\nshoulders at the All Englands where she failed to reach the last
\neight, but the youngster has the game to be a world champion and
\nyouth is very much on her side.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the acknowledged powerhouse of the sport, is keyed
\nup to strike back against old foes China which won four of the
\nfive titles at the All Englands and the men's championship could
\nbe theirs via Heryanto Arbi, the current titleholder.<\/p>\n
Heryanto had a disappointing Olympics and has been struggling
\nwith injury but reports suggest he is in good trim again and his
\nchance cannot be ignored. His predecessor as world champion,
\ncompatriot Joko Suprianto, is surely too long in the tooth, but
\nthe Chinese have some talented youngsters.<\/p>\n
Dong Jiong, Olympic silver medallist, went one better at the
\nAll Englands where he beat former world junior champion Sun Jun
\nin the final.<\/p>\n
Either looks good enough for world honours, while the only
\nEuropean to disturb the Far East supremacy will probably be
\nOlympic champion Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen.<\/p>\n
The Dane's motivation and form dipped after the glow of
\nAtlanta but if he is to remain in the top echelon he needs a bold
\nshow in Glasgow.<\/p>\n
Two weeks of badminton action start on Monday with the opening
\nrounds of the Sudirman Cup team event.<\/p>\n
China won it for the first time two years ago and on current
\nform should keep the crown, but don't say that in Indonesia.<\/p>",
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