Badminton hero Eddy Yusuf dies

Indonesian badminton hero Eddy Yusuf passed away at the age of 72 due to cancer at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital early Saturday morning.

He was buried at the Karet Bivak cometary later on Saturday afternoon, according to www.detik.com news website.

Eddy, born in Surabaya on April 3, 1931, was a member of the first Indonesian men's badminton team to win the coveted Thomas Cup in 1958.

The other team members included Tan Joe Hok, Ferry Sonneville and doubles pairing Tan King Gwan and Njoo Kim Bee. Indonesia beat Malaysia (then Malay) 6-3 in the final in Kuala Lumpur.

It was Eddy who urged the Badminton Association of Indonesia to insist that Indonesia should take part in the cup.

Eddy's death overshadowed the Indonesian shuttlers' preparations for the mixed team Sudirman Cup to be held in Eindhoven, the Netherlands from next Tuesday to Sunday. -- JP