Susi and Joko aim to win Sony Open<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Defending champions Susi Susanti and Joko
\nSuprianto are keen to retain their national titles at the 1997
\nSony Badminton Indonesia Open next month in Surakarta, Central
\nJava.<\/p>\n
\"I haven't won any championships this year. I hope I can win
\nthe title and win the championship for the fifth time,\" Susi said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
\"It's good that the championship will take place not in the
\ncapital because, hopefully, the Badminton Association of
\nIndonesia can get new talent to replace us in the future,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Joko, who still has a leg injury, said he hoped he could win
\nin his hometown.<\/p>\n
\"It will mean a lot to me if I can win in my hometown. I hope
\nmore fans will support our national shuttlers. However, our
\nchances will be better than at last year's event because more
\nworld players will compete here,\" he said.<\/p>\n
All England champion Dong Jiong and World Championship runner
\nup Sun Jun, from China, will compete in the event from July 16 to
\nJuly 20.<\/p>\n
Olympic gold medalist Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen and World
\nChampion Peter Rasmussen, both from Denmark, have yet to confirm
\ntheir entry, but Denmark is certain to send its best players.<\/p>\n
In the women's event, All England champion and World Champion
\nYe Zhaoying and world championship runner-up Gong Zhichao, from
\nChina, will also compete.<\/p>\n
Olympic gold medalists Ricky Subagja\/Rexy Mainaky and world
\nchampion Chandra Wijaya\/Sigit Budiarto will challenge
\ndefending champion Antonius\/Denny Kantono, the Olympic bronze
\nmedalists, in the men's doubles.<\/p>\n
Susi and Joko said they would compete in the Malaysia Open,
\nwhich is a week before the Indonesia Open, as a warm up.<\/p>\n
\"I have enough time to prepare for the Indonesia Open and I
\nhave tried hard to improve my physical condition. I will use the
\nMalaysian Open as a warm up before the Surakarta championship,\"
\nSusi said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Open offers US$200,000 in cash prizes, $25,000
\nmore than last year, as a preparation to become part of the
\nBadminton Grand Slam, which will start in 1999.<\/p>\n
Canada, England, Finland, Guatemala, India, the Netherlands
\nhave also confirmed their participation in the Indonesian Open.<\/p>\n
Organizers are still waiting for Malaysia's confirmation.
\n(yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/susi-and-joko-aim-to-win-sony-open-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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