Hoyer-Larsen out for revenge over Fung in World Cup

JAKARTA (JP): Olympic gold medalist Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen of Denmark is hoping for revenge over World Grand Prix champion Fung Permadi, a former Indonesian shuttler who now plays for China Taipei, at the Sanyo World Cup Badminton Championship here this week.

"The last time I played in Jakarta, I lost to Fung but this time I hope to meet him in the semifinals and take revenge," Hoyer-Larsen told a press conference yesterday.

The 31-year-old Dane replaced Indonesia's top player Joko Suprianto, who was injured at last week's Grand Prix Finals in Denpasar, Bali.

Hoyer-Larsen is in group B together with Lee Kwan Jin of South Korea, Jeroen van Dijk of the Netherlands and Indonesia's rookie Jeffer Rosobin, who replaces the injured Haryanto Arby.

"My major problem in the group will be Lee. I have lost to Lee twice. I have never met Jeffer but I think I can overcome him although he is playing before his own crowd," he commented when asked about winning his group.

Fung said that his self-confidence was boosted by winning the Grand Prix Finals but that his physical condition is not as good as it was last week.

Fung admitted his physical condition may deteriorate further if he reaches the semifinals and finals of the US$190,000 World Cup, due to commence at the Senayan Indoor Stadium today.

Fung is in group A with Chen Gang of China, Darren Hall of England and Pang Chen of Malaysia. Chen replaces compatriot Sun Jun, who was injured in the Grand Prix Finals final against Fung Sunday.

Indonesia's Alan Budikusuma, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist, has to overcome Dong Jiong of China, Soren B Nielsen of Denmark and Oliver Pongratz of Germany in group C.

Malaysia's Ong Ewe Hock, Park Sung Woo of South Korea, Jens Olsson of Sweden and Martin Lundgaard Hansen of Denmark are in group D.

The tickets for the round-robin matches cost between Rp 5,000 ($2.1) and Rp 10,000.

Hoyer-Larsen's participation in the event, was protested by the Badminton Association's of Indonesia because he did not register to take part. The association expected local junior Indra Wijaya or Budi Santoso to replace Joko.

"The World Cup was my first choice but since I have to play at the China Masters and Copenhagen Masters I didn't elect to participate. As the China Masters, which was supposed to be staged next week, has been canceled, it's possible for me to take part in the World Cup," he said.

Participation

Vice president of the International Badminton Association Jeff Robson said that the participation of Hoyer-Larsen, who also won the All England championship in May, was an advantage for the sponsors, TV and the audiences.

"The IBF renewed the invitation, which was issued many weeks ago, to enable him to take part in the World Cup," Robson said.

"It's an invitational event and there is no rule about the changing of participants. The IBF decision takes into account the interests of sponsors and TV stations in certain countries," he added.

Robson said that the World Cup is to use the new scoring system, which allow coaches to give instruction to the players during the 90-second break after point eight in each game.

"Except in the third set, when the score is one all, there will be no break. The setting will only take place on point 14 with three options: one, two or three points," he said.

Robson stressed that the federation is considering penalizing players who withdraw up to seven days prior to a tournament.

He also said that starting next year, the Grand Prix points are to disappear and the federation will only use the world rankings.

"It's a little bit confusing, even for the players," he admitted. (yan)