Badminton body to send 22 shuttlers to All England

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia will send 22 shuttlers next month to the 1998 All England Badminton Championships in Birmingham, England.

The association's secretary-general, Leo Ch. Wiranata, announced the names Tuesday, including his son, Ardy B. Wiranata, who has resigned from the Badminton Training Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.

Leo said that although Ardy has been named as a coach in the U.S., he could still play for Indonesia at the championships. Ardy will finance the trip personally.

Hariyanto Arbi, Budi Santoso, Indra Wijaya, Hendrawan and Ardy will compete in the men's singles. Susi Susanti, Mia Audina and Meiluawati are in the women's singles.

Candra Wijaya/Tony Gunawan, Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaki and Antonius/Denny Kantono will compete in the men's doubles. Elysa/Zelin Resiana, Deyana Lomban/Indarti Issoliana are in the women's doubles and Bambang Supriyanto/Risyeu Rosalina and Tri Kusharjanto/Minarti Timur in the mixed doubles.

The association will have to spend US$45,000 to send the shuttlers to the championships, including $25,000 for the airplane tickets.

Three managers, Indra Gunawan, Imelda Wiguna and Atik Jauhari, will accompany the shuttlers during the championships.

Absence

Candra's partner Sigit Budiarto, who won the only title at the 1997 World Championships in Glasgow, cannot join the team because he has a stomach ulcer.

Leo said, reported Antara, that Candra has been partnered with Tony, to replace their seniors Ricky/Rexy and Antonius/Denny.

Men's doubles coach Atik Jauhari said that due to Sigit's ulcer, he could not take part in training at the Senayan Madya stadium.

Sigit said he was disappointed with the association's decision not to include him in the squad.

"Frankly, I'm not sick but I skip training because I'm recuperating," he said.

Sigit said Atik had told him about the decision on Feb. 10, but the coach did not tell him the reason.

"I'm very disappointed because my personal goal is to compete at the All England before competing at the Thomas Cup in Hong Kong in May. I don't know if I can still join the Thomas Cup squad," he said.

Candra told Kompas daily that he hoped Sigit could partner him again.

"I'm very disappointed with him. I think he doesn't really care about me and it forces the coach to partner me with someone else. I don't blame Sigit but I want that we both care about each other, be disciplined together. I'm sad because I'm alone now," Candra said. (yan)