Bali to host national badminton tourney

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's top world shuttlers Joko Suprianto, Ardy B. Wiranata, Hermawan Susanto, Hariyanto Arbi, and Susi Susanti have confirmed their entry into the annual national badminton championships.

The event is set for Nov. 28 to Dec. 3 in Denpasar, Bali.

I Gusti Ketut Anom, the chairman of the Bali Chapter of the PBSI (Badminton Association of Indonesia), said that for the event, the local administration is preparing five badminton stadiums in Denpasar and Kuta, which include the 3,000-seat Ngurah Rai stadium.

Sumaryono, PBSI's executive chief said yesterday that Jakarta, West Java, East Java and Central Java, all home to top Indonesian shuttlers, and the host, Bali, will each be allowed to send a delegation of 17 players. The other 22 Indonesian provinces will be eligible to field 11 players each.

R.A.J. Gosal, PBSI's secretary general, said that as of Nov. 15 each shuttler training at the national training center (Pelatnas) will be sent back to their clubs for preparation for the championships.

Lufti Hamid, a PBSI chairman in charge of provincial badminton administration, said the organizers, PBSI and cigarette maker PT BAT, had decided to give cash prizes to the winners. The amount of the prize money has yet to be announced, he added.

Lufti said that unlike the Thomas Cup or the Uber Cup championships which feature only men's or women's teams, the national championships will use the Sudirman match system which features men's and women's singles and men's and women's doubles plus mixed doubles.

The national championships will also feature junior championships, intended for shuttlers under 18 years old. (arf).