Candra, Sigit to team up at the Korean Open

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) will partner Olympics gold medalists Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto for the Korean Open early January.

Candra is separated from regular partner Tony Gunawan in the championships due to limited preparation time.

"Tony has to compete in the Copenhagen Masters around Christmas, and is likely to be tired after the event," said Candra after a training session at the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, on Wednesday.

Tony will partner Halim Heryanto in the Copenhagen Masters and the Korean Open.

"Our points in the International Badminton Federation (IBF) rankings have fallen because we had to skip one competition. Unfortunately, by being separated for the Korean Open, our points will be reduced further," Candra said.

Candra and Tony, who reached last year's Korean Open semifinals, are now ranked second in the world, after compatriots Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian.

Candra said he did not set any target but he was sure that he and Sigit could perform well.

"Sigit and I had performed really well when we managed to win the 1997 World Championships title. Tony and Halim also managed to win the Grand Prix Final in 1998. I think we have enough strength amongst our pairs to defeat the South Korean pairs," he said.

Candra was paired with Tony in 1998 after Sigit was found guilty of consuming the anabolic steroid, nandrolone, and banned from international competitions for one year.

Host South Korea will field its world number three pair, Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong-sung; the Olympic silver medalist and world number five, Kim Dong-moon; and Ha Tae-kwon, an Olympic bronze medalist.

The PBSI has planned to also send Flandy and Eng Hian, Nova Widhiyanto and Endra Mulyajaya, and Santoso Sugiharjo and Ade Lukas in the men's doubles.

Men's singles players Marlev Mainaky, Budi Santoso, Johan Hadikusuma and Ronny Agustinus will also be sent. In the women's singles, Yuli Marfuah and Atu Rosalina will represent the country while the women's doubles team will include Deyana Lomban and Carmelita, Etty Tantri and Indarti Issoliana, and Dyah Novita and Rossy Riani. In the mixed doubles, the PBSI will field Etty and Nova, and Wahyu Agung and Emma Ermawati.

PBSI has announced that the Korean Open competitors will start their training program on Jan. 4.

"I won't take any days off. I'll return home to celebrate Christmas for just three days before returning to the training center to prepare myself," Candra Wijaya said. (yan)