Fans protest shuttlers ban

BANDUNG (JP): Badminton lovers arrived on Wednesday at the West Java provincial council, protesting a ban which prevents the province's Olympics qualified shuttlers from competing in the 15th National Games (PON) in Surabaya next week.

The fans questioned chairman of commission E for social affairs Ruchiyat Noor over the ban.

"We don't understand why West Java shuttlers, who qualified for the Olympics, are banned from competing in PON, while taekwon doins, boxers and archers from Jakarta are allowed to do so," said Luky, one of the protesters.

They assumed the ban was to prevent West Java from retaining the number two position in the PON medals standings.

Ruchiyat said he was unaware of a letter from the Badminton Association of Indonesia banning the Olympics qualifiers from competing in PON. (25)