Alan and Hariyanto off SEAG badminton team
Alan and Hariyanto off SEAG badminton team
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's badminton team won't take its eyes
off the seven gold medals at stake at the 18th Southeast Asian
Games, but it will lose the superb attacking games of Hariyanto
Arbi and Alan Budikusuma.
The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) announced a
puzzling team line-up for the Chiang Mai Games over the weekend,
with both world champions and Olympic gold medalists missing from
the list.
Indonesia's quest for a clean sweep, however, remains within
reach as the 16-strong team is still comprised of the world's
best. The men's squad parade Joko Suprianto, Ardy Wiranata,
Hermawan Susanto, Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky and Antonius/Deny
Kantono.
Susi Susanti will lead the women's team of Yuliani Sentosa,
Mia Audina, Lili Tampi/Finarsih and Eliza/Zelin Resiana. The
World Cup pair of Tri Kusharjanto and Minarti Timur were also
picked to lift the mixed doubles crown.
The association was tightlipped about the reasons for dropping
Alan from the team. Alan won the Malaysia Open and reached the
World Cup final this year.
As for "Jumping Jack" Hariyanto, the association said the
world number one will be busy with a series of grand prix
tournaments in China, Thailand, Hong Kong and grand prix finals
in Singapore, starting from Nov. 8.
The upcoming tournaments will be crucial for world's shuttlers
heading into the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. The All England
next March will be the last qualifying tournament for the
Olympics.
PBSI chairman, Sumaryono, said that Joko has the best chance
of retaining his gold medal in Chiang Mai, but Ardy and Hermawan
could turn up the heat.
Sumaryono also said that the women's team, including the
country's badminton queen Susi, Mia, Yuliani and the two doubles
teams are also expected to grab all of the gold.
According to Sumaryono, Indonesia will announce the definite
team line-up after arriving in Thailand.
""We are not afraid of our opponents. Our players will be
better," he said.
He also said that exhausted players should not force
themselves to play in individual matches. It will be better for
them to save energy to play in the team matches.
Malaysia denied Indonesia an SEA Games clean sweep three times
in a row in 1989, 1991 and 1993. Cheah Soon Kit and Soo Beng
Kiang beat Ricky Subagja and Gunawan in Singapore to spoil
Indonesia's last winning run. (icn)