China's shuttlers to join Indonesia Open

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

China has confirmed its participation in the US$170,000 Indonesia Open badminton championship next month, while defending champion Taufik Hidayat expects a tough challenge from opponents.

The five-star tournament will be staged at the Bung Karno Tennis Indoor Stadium from Dec. 15 to Dec. 19.

China is the only foreign team to have registered but organizing committee chairman Sulistyanto said that he was optimistic badminton giant countries such as South Korea, Malaysia, Japan and Denmark would follow soon.

"China has confirmed that it will send its top players including world number one Lin Dan," Sulistyanto, an official of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) in charge of foreign affairs, said.

China dominated last year's tournament in Batam by winning three of five titles -- women's singles, women's doubles and men's doubles.

Indonesia and South Korea took one each, the men's singles and mixed doubles, respectively.

Indonesian champion Taufik Hidayat, whose 2003 championship was sealed in style by defeating a number of China's top players en route to his title, said that it would be a mounting task to accomplish when he goes on court to defend his title.

"It's more difficult to retain a title than wresting it from a champion, especially in a tournament before home supporters who have high expectations. But I will try to do my best," said Taufik, whose badminton career peaked when he won an Olympic gold in September.

The Indonesia Open, which had been rescheduled from June to allow more time for the Thomas Cup arrangement in May, will be the season-closing tournament after China Open and Singapore Open, late November.

Icuk Sugiarto, PBSI's chief in charge of development affairs, said that all Indonesian shuttlers at the training center would play in the event.

"This is a good opportunity for our shuttlers to participate in an international event at home. The shuttlers in good condition will take part in this tournament," Icuk said.

However, men's doubles specialist Halim Haryanto will not be among the local squad after he resigned from the training center on Wednesday.

PBSI's secretary-general Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar confirmed Halim's departure, saying that Halim had decided to quit in order to join his wife, Jeanny Nathalia, in the United States.

Apart from Siregar's explanation, Halim's departure has most likely stemmed from the fact that he and his partner Candra Wijaya failed to qualify for the Olympics.

Men's doubles coach Christian Hadinata said that Halim had already planned to resign since June, when he found out that he had to bury his Olympic dream.

"He had to postpone his resignation plan until now, due to a change in PBSI leadership, including coaching staff. The fact that his wife is studying in the U.S. may have left him with no options but to follow her," Christian said.

After Candra reunited with his former partner Sigit Budiarto last month, Halim had to settle with his former partner Tri Kusharjanto but the partnership did not prove successful.