Badminton body aims for two titles at Japan Open

Badminton body aims for two titles at Japan Open

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
aims to grab two titles in the upcoming five-star Japan Open
tournament despite achieving disappointing results in the
previous three opening events this year.

"The Indonesian men's doubles must defend the title while in
the mixed doubles we have a chance to improve on our result from
the event last year," PBSI's training director, Christian
Hadinata, said on Thursday.

Indonesia's Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan took last year's
title while Tri Kusheryanto and Minarti Timur bowed out to
Chinese Liu Yong and Ge Fei in the final.

"PBSI don't expect our men's singles shuttlers to grab the
title, especially after their failure at the All England
championships. It will be satisfying if they can perform better."

Christian referred to Indonesian shuttlers disappointing
results at the All England tournament where only the men's
doubles, Tony and Halim Heryanto, managed to grab a title after
ousting teammates Candra and Sigit Budiarto.

The mixed doubles only reached the quarterfinals while the
men's singles were beaten in the third round.

He pointed out that the Japan Open will be the last Grand Prix
series tournament before the Sudirman Cup and World Championships
take place in Seville, Spain, from May 28 to June 10.

However, the ambitions of Indonesia's shuttlers to grab the
two titles in Japan will face a tough challenge from European
powerhouse Denmark whose shuttlers are top seeds in both events.

Indonesia will field Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian; Candra and
Sigit; Tony and Halim and brothers Marlev and Reony Mainaky. They
will face tough competition from Danish top-seeded pair Jens
Eriksen and Jesper Larsen and third-seeded Malaysian pair Choong
Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah.

Eng Hian almost jeopardized his chance of ending his title
drought after winning the Danish Open in October when he strained
his back muscles.

"But I have recovered and we are prepared to compete in Japan.
We really hope to be able to win the event," he said.

In the mixed doubles, PBSI will field new partners Bambang
Suprianto and Minarti; Tri and Indarti Issoliana; and Nova
Widhianto and Vita Marissa.

They will have to struggle against the world's top-seeded
pair, Michael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen, and second seeds Jens
Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager, both pairs come from Denmark.
Other tough challengers are Olympic gold medalists Zhang Jun and
Gao Ling of China.

Bambang has aimed to reach the semifinals, pointing out that
linesmen in Tokyo are the among the fairest in Grand Prix series
tournaments.

"Minarti and I are good shuttlers individually, but we have to
find the best pattern of teamwork to be able to grab the title in
Japan," he said.

PBSI opted to rest world number two men's singles shuttler
Taufik Hidayat and number seven Hendrawan due to their poor form
at the recent All England tournament.

Taufik also performed disappointingly at the Swiss Open where
he bowed out to lesser known Malaysian Lee Tsuen Seng in the
semifinals.

PBSI prefers to send second stringers Johan Hadikusuma and
Ronny Agustinus. While Marlev will compete using his own
expenses.

"I'll play all out and do my best to reach the semifinals. So
far, I have only managed to reach the quarters," said Marlev, who
will reside in Japan after the tournament.

PBSI will not send any women's singles players to Japan but
will still field Deyana Lomban and Indarti in the women's
doubles. (nvn)