All England set to test RI shuttlers

JAKARTA (JP): The All England Open Badminton Championships in March will be a warm-up event for Indonesian shuttlers ahead of the Sudirman Cup and the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, both in May.

Hadi Nasri, an official of the Badminton Association of Indonesia, told The Jakarta Post and Kompas yesterday that some national players are hoping to improve their world rankings at the All England, thereby gaining entry to the World Championships.

"We are focusing them on the Sudirman Cup and the World Championship," Hadi added. "Let's see how they can deal with the pressure."

The biennial Sudirman Cup team event, which has been held since 1989, has been won by China since 1991. Indonesia is aiming to take it back.

Hadi said that the people are still dreaming of watching their shuttlers win the All England, especially after the national squad won the Asia Cup last week.

"Hari (Hariyanto Arbi) is getting better after being absent for several months and Indra (Wijaya) is becoming the country's young hope," he said.

Hari, who earlier was sidelined for months by a knee injury, won the India Open tournament in January, while Indra led the Indonesian team to victory over Malaysia in the just-concluded Asia Cup.

Coach Indra Gunawan expressed confidence that this year's All England result would be better than last year's.

None of Indonesia's men's shuttlers reached the semifinals last year, while the female athletes failed to reach the finals. Hari won the last title for Indonesia in 1994. Since then, Olympic gold medalist Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen of Denmark has won the title twice in a row.

Indra Gunawan is optimistic that at least one of national men's shuttlers would reach the final of the championship, which will take place in Birmingham between March 11 and March 16.

"This year, we have eight male shuttlers at the All England. We hopeful that one of them--whoever it is--will make it to the final," he said.

Old hands Joko Suprianto, newly-wed Alan Budikusuma, Ardy B. Wiranata, Hariyanto and juniors Indra Wijaya, Jeffer Rosobin, Budi Santoso and Salim will leave for the tournament in March 8.

Alan's bride Susi Susanti and the country's great new hope Mia Audina will also take part in the All England. Yuliani Sentosa, who was relegated from the Badminton Training Center in November, will also take part at her own expense.

The association will send its strongest doubles, including Olympic gold medalists Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky, Olympic bronze medalists Antonius/Denny Kantono and the rising stars Chandra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto. It will also send women's doubles Eliza/Zelin Resiana and mixed doubles Tri Kusherjanto/Minarti Timur. (yan)