IBF names three VPs and six council members

COPENHAGEN (JP): The International Badminton Federation (IBF) selected three vice presidents, two from Asia and one from Africa, in its annual general meeting on Sunday.

Justian Suhandinata of Indonesia and Charoen Wattanasin of Thailand were reelected. James Sekajugo of Uganda, an IBF council member, took the third place, replacing Roy Ward of Australia. The three will serve in their posts from 1999 to 2001.

Ward becomes an honorary life vice president -- joining Ram Chadha of India, Arthur Jones of England, Stellan Mohlin of Sweden, Ian Palmer of New Zealand, Craig Reedie of England and Herman Valken of the Netherlands.

Two vice presidents, Tom Bacher of Denmark and Roger Johansson of Sweden, will serve until 2000, while Punch Gunalan of Malaysia and Jeffrey Robson of New Zealand serve until 2001. President Lu Shengrong of China will also serve until 2001.

During the meeting, attended by 109 out of 129 IBF members, nominator Stan Hales of the United States was not elected as a vice president. Hales, who also renominated himself as a member of the IBF council, also did not get a place in the council.

Four of 12 council members were reelected in the meeting: Martijn van Dooremale of the Netherlands, Mario Tiburcio of Mexico, Mya Lay Sein of Myanmar and Kim Hak-suk of South Korea.

Another two -- Paisan Rangsikitpho of the United States and Raj Gaya of Mauritius -- are new members. They replace Hales and Omar Bellali of Morocco.

Six other members -- Edgar Aglipay of the Philippines, Rudy Hartono of Indonesia, Robert Leole of Tanzania, Heather Nielsen of England, Prakash Padukone of India and Yang Shu'an of China -- will still serve until next year.

The meeting declined to approve France's proposal to add to the number of countries competing in the Sudirman Cup first divisions. But several countries, including Sweden and Australia, rejected the proposal.

The meeting agreed to adopt the final declaration of the International Olympic Committee world conference on doping in sports, including the adoption of a minimum penalty of a two-year suspension for a major doping offense.

The IBF also put Sudirman, an Indonesian badminton leader, in its Hall of Fame. The late Sudirman, who passed away in 1986, is the only Indonesian to receive the honor. (yan)