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)