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)