31 shuttlers named for Sudirman Cup

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia named 31 players Thursday to represent the country at next month's Sudirman Cup and world championships.

Association official Hadi Nasri said the names were the same as those listed by the International Badminton Federation on April 1.

Joko Suprianto, Indra Wijaya, Hariyanto Arbi, Alan Budikusuma, Budi Santoso and Ardy B Wiranata will compete in the men's singles. Mia Audina, Susi Susanti, Meiluawati and Cindana will contest the women's singles.

Chandra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto, Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky, Antonius/Denny Kantono and the new partnership of Tony Gunawan and Victo Wibowo will play in the men's doubles. Eliza/Zelin Resiana, Indarti Isolina/Deyana Lomban and Etty Tantri/Cynthia will play in the women's doubles.

Tri Kusherjanto/Minarti Timur, Imam Tohari/Emma Ermawati, Sandiarto/Finarsih and Flandy Limpele/Etty Tantri will team up for the mixed doubles.

The Indonesian association submitted its team lists a day before the entry deadline.

All the players are expected to take part in an internal simulation tournament in East Jakarta from 4.00 p.m. on April 25.

"Because we are entering the campaign season before the general election, we have decided to stage the internal simulation tournament here," Hadi said at the National Badminton Center in Cipayung.

RAJ Gosal, the association's secretary-general, said that mineral water supplier Aqua, Lippo Bank, cigarette company Djarum and other sponsors were expected to send spectators to the tournament.

"We intend to have competition conditions at the simulation," he said.

Six countries will contest the Sudirman Cup. They are defending champion China, Indonesia, Denmark, South Korea, England and Sweden.

Xinhua news agency reported that China would send 28 shuttlers to the tournament, including men's All England winner Dong Jiong and runner-up Sun Jun and women's singles stars Ye Zhaoying and Gong Zhichao.

China would rely on its Olympic gold medalists in the women's doubles, Ge Fei and Gu Jun, and mixed doubles pair of Liu Yong and Ge.

The Indonesian association plans to send players to the tournaments in Glasgow, Scotland, in three groups: the first group will depart May 13, the main group on May 15 and the last group on May 22.

Hadi said, "It's hard to practice there because each country only has one hour for training at the venue."

Gosal said the team would visit the grave of Sudirman, who the cup is named after, at the Tanah Kusir cemetery in South Jakarta for the association's anniversary on May 5.

"We will also hold a small party at that time for the players, coaches and officials," he said. (yan)