Denmark to field stars in Indonesia Open

JAKARTA (JP): Denmark will be at full strength in the US$120,000 Sanyo Indonesia Open badminton championships, still awaiting the bulk of foreign entries even though its deadline falls on Saturday.

The Badminton Association of Indonesia's secretary-general, Leo Wiranata, told reporters on Wednesday that Olympic gold medalist Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen, world number one Peter Gade Christensen and world champion Peter Rasmussen would lead the 14- strong men's team in the annual event.

Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen, Thomas Sogaard, Kenneth Jonassen, Peter Janum, Jon Holst-Christensen, Jens Eriksen, Jesper Larsen, Jim Laugesen, Janek Roos, Thomas Stavngaard and Michael Sogaard will also compete.

World women's singles number three Camilla Martin tops the Danish women's team roster which also includes Mette Pedersen, Mette Sorensen, Helene Kirkegard, Rikke Olsen, Pernille Harder, Ann Jorgensen, Marlene Thomsen and Majken Vange.

Denmark is the second foreign squad to confirm its participation in the event after Nigeria.

The tournament will be held from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1 at the Senayan indoor stadium. The organizers moved back the event on the calendar by three months due to security concerns and financial constraints.

Leo said the organizers were still waiting for responses from Japan, the Netherlands and Sweden.

"I'm sure that the Netherlands and Sweden will come," Leo said.

He said Japan appeared diffident about competing due to late payment of a medical bill incurred by an Indonesian team member in Tokyo.

"One of our coaches received medical treatment at the Japan Open early this year. The bill cost us about Rp 26 million (around US$2,100)."

Leo said the badminton association paid the bill on Tuesday and had faxed the transfer invoice to the Japanese.

The prolonged economic crisis in Asia for the past year forced the organizers to cut the tournament's prize money from last year's purse of $200,000.

First-timer Sanyo is the only company to agree to sponsor the event.

Leo said a sports equipment company had applied to cosponsor the tournament but the organizers would have to speak to the official equipment sponsor, Yonex.

Leo said all participants would be accommodated at the Hotel Indonesia because "it's the cheapest offer we can get".

The rate at the hotel is Rp 192,000 per athlete per night for a three-person room, Rp 216,000 per athlete per night for a double room and Rp 306,000 per athlete per night for a single room. The charge is inclusive of three meals a day and applicable taxes.

"Other hotels are really expensive," Leo complained.

Hotel Atlet Century Park is offering a rate of Rp 300,000 net per night, inclusive of American breakfast. The Hotel Mulia Senayan offers $45 net per room per night, including three meals a day. Both hotels have been earmarked to host athletes as they are situated in the Senayan sports complex.

Hotel Indonesia is located downtown in the Central Jakarta area. (yan)