China to skip Indonesia Open

China to skip Indonesia Open

The cash prizes on offer at this year's badminton six-star
Indonesia Open have increased, but this apparently has done
little to attract the Chinese, who have pulled out of the
tournament.

Formerly a five-star tournament, the Indonesia Open, which
will run from Sept. 21 to Sept. 25 in Jakarta, has upped the ante
this year, offering cash prizes of US$250,000 from $170,000 last
year.

Fourteen countries, including Indonesia, will take part in the
competition, however, China, a badminton powerhouse, will not be
among them.

"The Badminton Association of China has moved the China
Masters forward and is holding its national competition at the
same time as Indonesia," Sulistyanto, an official at the
Badminton Association of Indonesia, said on Friday.

China won three titles at last year's Indonesia Open, while
the home side captured two.

However, Sulistyanto brushed aside suggestions that the
tournament's competitiveness would be diminished by the absence
of the Chinese.

"The quality of play will not suffer without the participation
of China," he said, pointing out that world No. 2 Kenneth
Jonassen of Denmark and top Korean players would be taking part
in the tournament.

Defending champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, who defeated
Chen Hong of China in last year's final, also said he did not
think the tournament would suffer because of China's withdrawal.

"It is the same (with or without China) because there are
other foreign players, specifically in the men's singles, who are
strong contenders," the world champion said.

Shuttlers from Denmark, Thailand, Canada, the Netherlands,
Vietnam, Japan, Korea, Wales, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore,
India and France will take part in the event.

The qualifying and quarterfinal rounds will be held from Sept.
21 to Sept. 23 starting at 1 p.m. The semifinals will be on Sept.
24 at 12:30 p.m. and the final will take place on Sept. 25. (004)