46 women to compete in Governor's Cup tennis
JAKARTA (JP): Forty-six tennis players from 11 countries will compete in the women's international tournament at Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, from July 19 to July 27.
The tournament is part of the annual Jakarta Governor's Cup. Governor Suryadi Soedirdja will open the eight-day tournament.
The 11 countries are Australia, Chinese Taipei, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Sweden, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Indonesia.
Organizer Suprawito said yesterday only the tournament's women's events had gone international this year because the International Tennis Federation rejected the proposal to organize a men's event here.
"Perhaps the performance of the women players is better than the men's at the moment," said Suprawito, who is also the East Jakarta mayor.
But he said there was a chance to stage international men's and women's events next year if the country's male players improved.
About 60 players will compete in the local men's event.
Indonesia's leading men's players, Suwandi, Bonit Wiryawan, Sulistiyo Wibowo and Andrian Raturandang will be absent because they are on the Satellite Circuit in Spain.
The qualifying round for the men's and women's events starts today and ends tomorrow.
Total cash prizes worth Rp 50 million (US$20,834) are on offer.
Six Indonesian women players do not have to play the qualifying rounds.
They are Liza Andriyani, Marieke Gunawan, Wynne Prakusha, Mimma Chernovita, Wukirasih Sawondari and Agustine Limanto.
The committee gave wild cards to Eny Sulistiawati, Frederika Girsang and Irawati Iskandar.
Liza, Enny, Wynne and Wukirasih were members of the Indonesian Federation Cup team which lost to Italy 5-0 in the World Group Two at the Senayan tennis stadium last Sunday.
Tournament director August Fery Raturandang said the committee expected young Indonesian players to stand up and be counted in the competition.
"It's time for our young players to show their skills in the absence of their senior players," August said. (03).