China vows to clinch Sudirman Cup title

China vows to clinch Sudirman Cup title

This article concludes an evaluation on the skills of players
competing in the Sudirman Cup mixed team championships next week.

JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion China is eying a hat trick in
the Sudirman Cup mixed team championships to decisively mark a
return to supremacy in the badminton world.

Having won the last two tournaments, China will parade its
best players to reach the semifinals as the Group B winner.
Indonesia, one of two teams which stand between China and the
title, is expected to finish second in the round robin group
competition and make it to the cross-over semifinals.

The other team in the group, Malaysia, which qualified for the
event at the expense of England, is entering the tournament as a
part timer and lacks a realistic chance of reaching the final
four.

China will begin the defense of the title against Malaysia on
Monday and will meet Indonesia on Tuesday. Indonesia will take on
Malaysia on Wednesday.

Chinese men's singles player Sun Jun, who has been under fire
for his unimpressive performance in the past two years, will lead
China's campaign. His latest victory -- over world number one
Peter Gade Christensen of Denmark in the Grand Prix Finals in
Brunei Darussalam in February -- proved he is on the comeback
trail.

Dong Jiong, the Asian Games gold medalist, is ranked second to
Sun at home, but he could be the key to victory for the Chinese
team.

China's women's singles team have geared up for the event
without coach Li Lingwei, who suddenly resigned after the Asian
Games last December. Her assistant Tang Xue Hwa took over.

Li's exit appeared to have no effect on China's performance,
as six of its women's singles players -- Ye Zhaoying, Gong Ruina,
Dai Yun, Zhang Ning, Zhou Mi and Gong Zhichao -- are ranked among
the top 16.

In the women's doubles, China has the two world class pairs of
Huang Nanyan/Yang Wei and Ge Fei/Gu Jun.

But China is not strong enough in the men's doubles. Its best
tandem of Zhang Wei and Zhang Jun is only ninth in the latest
world ranking. Also on the decline are former world number one
mixed doubles pair of Liu Yong and Ge Fei, who are currently
ranked eighth.

Strongest

Indonesia, the winner of the inaugural event, will be China's
strongest opponent in the group, despite the poor preparations at
home for the tournament. Complaints were lodged at the Badminton
Association of Indonesia (PBSI) for its decision to set up a
rigorous training program to address players' poor physical
fitness.

Men's singles Hendrawan, however, said he was highly motivated
to win the event.

"After winning the silver at the Asian Games, I enjoyed my
life very much. I realize that without hard work, it's impossible
to attain my best form."

Hendrawan will be accompanied by the 1999 All England
finalist, Taufik Hidayat.

Taufik almost spoilt Indonesia's preparations for the Sudirman
Cup when he threatened to stay at home if his coach, Mulyo
Handoyo, was dropped from the contingent. The PBSI agreed to his
demand.

"My coach is the only person who knows me on and off the
court," Taufik argued.

By contrast, Indonesia's women's singles players appear
gloomy. Mia Audina, who is ranked 11th in the world and
overshadows her compatriots, skipped the event after her mother
died. Her replacements, Cindana, Lidya Djaelawidjaja and Ellen
Angelina, said they were doubtful of their potential.

Indonesia is also facing injury problems in the women's
doubles. Elysa Nathanael, who is still recovering from a right
knee injury, will leave her regular partner, Deyana Lomban, to
team up with Indarti Issolina. Elysa and Deyana won the Asian
Games silver.

Men's doubles will be Indonesia's only trump card, having four
of the best pairs in the world. They are Antonius Arianto/Denny
Kantono, Flandy Limpele/Eng Hian, Candra Wijaya/Tony Gunawan and
the veteran pair of Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky, the Olympic
champions.

In the mixed doubles, Tri Kusherjanto and his long-time
partner Minarti Timur are expected to perform their best.
Indonesia has named the tandem of Bambang Suprianto and Zelin
Resiana as reserves.

Underdog

Malaysia may enter the tournament as an underdog, due to the
absence of world class women's shuttlers, but the presence of top
men's singles Rashid Sidek will give it a morale boost.

Utusan Melayu reported Rashid had put national interests
before his dispute with the Badminton Association of Malaysia
(BAM).

"I will seek optimum chances to contribute something for my
country. It's most likely my last opportunity," said the 31-year-
old shuttler.

Malaysia also risks losing the doubles event. Cheah Soon Kit,
the 1996 Olympic silver medalist with Yap Kim Hock, could not
resolve communication problems with new partner Chong Tang Fook.
They have reportedly not talked to each other in weeks.

BAM has called on Kim Hock to intervene in the dispute between
the two. Kim Hock asked for one week, which ends on May 7, to
solve the problem.

"I am worried about them. They don't have to spend time
together and talk, but simple communication on court and gestures
to encourage each other is good enough," Kim Hock told The Star.

Malaysia's Danish coach, Morten Frost Hansen, said: "I don't
want to comment about the two players because I think both of
them should deal with it." (yan)