Top shuttlers miss Asian C'ships<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The world's top players are passing over the
\nAsian Badminton Championships this year, making room for a number
\nof participants from countries where badminton is alien.<\/p>\n
The US$30,000 championships will be held in Gelora Pancasila
\nstadium in Surabaya from Apr. 17 to Apr. 21.<\/p>\n
Secretary-general of the Badminton Association of Indonesia
\nRAJ Gosal announced yesterday that Syria, Iran, Kazakhstan,
\nMaldives, Nepal, Myanmar and Vietnam are among the new kids on
\nthe block.<\/p>\n
Is this proof that the ugly duckling of the racket family
\nbegins to sport showier feathers? Could be. Or perhaps the
\nenticements have something to do with it.<\/p>\n
The association's Director for Foreign Affairs Rudy Hartono
\nKurniawan said that the sponsor, Japanese timepiece giant Seiko,
\nis providing free board and lodging for six persons from each
\nparticipating country.<\/p>\n
\"This is our strategy, particularly to attract newly
\ndeveloping countries which may need financial help to come here
\nand play,\" the eight-time All England champion said.<\/p>\n
Richard Ivory of the International Management Group which is
\norganizing the tournament added that Seiko will also pay for
\nparticipants' airfares.<\/p>\n
As for the Big Four -- China, Indonesia, South Korea and
\nMalaysia -- it seems they unanimously decided not to field their
\nfirst-class shuttlers. Which means that the tournament will miss
\nthe world's top shuttlers.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, they are all being prepared for the Thomas and
\nUber Cup championships (May 16 to May 22 in Hong Kong),\" said the
\nassociation's executive director, Sumaryono.<\/p>\n
\"We have just fielded them in All England. Fielding them again
\nin this tournament would be too much for them and may affect
\ntheir timed peak performances in Hong Kong. Besides, we want to
\navoid the risk of injury,\" Sumaryono added.<\/p>\n
Thus, Malaysia will be led by Peng Cheng, China by Cheng Kang,
\nSouth Korea by Ah Jae Chang. Indonesia will try a synergy of its
\nnear-expiry date players such as Hermawan Susanto (men's singles)
\nand Yuni Kartika (women's singles) and young talents plus two
\ntrial partnerships.<\/p>\n
The untested duos group Lili Tampi and Trikus Haryanto in the
\nmixed doubles (usual pair: Trikus and Minarshi) and Finarsih and
\nMinarti Timur in the women's doubles (usual pair: Finarsih and
\nLili).<\/p>\n
Will the new duets work? \"If not, we will put them back in
\norder. But if they do, why shouldn't they go on?\" Sumaryono said.
\n(arf)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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