Badmitton old-timers game scheduled

Badmitton old-timers game scheduled

JAKARTA (JP): Rudy Hartono's supremacy in world badminton, summed up in his eight wins of the All England Cup, is now history.

So is the rise and fall of Liem Swie King, the king of the jumping smash, who managed to win the title three times.

Indonesia's former winners of the world men's team badminton championship - more popularly known as the Thomas Cup - can only look back nostalgically on Indonesia's past glory because, since 1982, the country has lost its supremacy. China seized the role as world leader only one year after they entered the world badminton scene. Indonesia recaptured the title in 1984, only to give it back to China in 1986.

In an effort to remind the public of its noble past, former Thomas Cup players will hold a reunion competition on Sunday at the badminton hall on Jl. Asia Afrika, Senayan. The event is organized by Bola sports magazine in cooperation with the Badminton Association of Indonesia, PBSI, RCTI, a private TV station and Djarum cigarettes.

The reunion will group winners who have defended Indonesia since 1958 and will be held in conjunction with the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup championships here from May 10 to 21.

The competition will feature doubles events only, and the total ages of each pair should be 90 years old.

A discussion on how to maintain Indonesia's supremacy in badminton will be held on Saturday by the popular sports tabloid. The discussion will take place at Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Jl. Palmerah Selatan 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Speakers at the discussion will include Ferry Soneville, the men's singles player who powered Indonesia to win the Thomas Cup in 1958, who will represent the men's champions. Minarni Sudaryanto, will represent the women's champions. Liem Swie King and Ivanna Lie will be representing the younger generation. (lem)