IBF to introduce special series for elite shuttlers

JAKARTA (JP): The International Badminton Federation (IBF) is planning to stage a super badminton series for elite shuttlers from five leading countries.

"IBF has submitted the proposals to China, Denmark, Indonesia, Japan and Malaysia to get feedback on the idea. It's too early actually to give any comments on the proposal," the secretary general of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) Leo Chandra Wiranata told reporters Tuesday.

"The super series is intended to increase the high quality of badminton tournaments because the participants are to be the top ranked. IBF is still drafting the requirements," he added.

Leo said, basically, Indonesian had no financial problems to organize the series although there were technical barriers.

"We can easily find sponsorships to finance the series, which is not so easy for some countries. It's more difficult for them to find interested sponsors. We can even help them to find the sponsorship," he said.

"The problem is, we have to provide better facilities for the players, spectators and journalists as required by IBF. We may have to build a new stadium to fulfill the requirements."

He pointed to lighting and spectators' seat requirements that could not be met in old stadiums. IBF also demands a media center with 30 computers and a high standard of hotels.

"The Atlet Century Park Hotel definitely can't meet IBF's requirements. But the requirements are still negotiable after we send back our feedback because the requirements are too high," said Leo.

"IBF held a seminar on the super series idea in Sydney and will convene another meeting in its London headquarters later this month to discuss all the requirements and feedback."

IBF will then make its decision during its meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, in December.

Meanwhile, Leo also revealed that European shuttlers might have canceled their participation in the 2000 Grand Prix final round next February.

"There is an IBF ruling requesting shuttlers to play at least three tournaments outside their continents to be able to take part in the Grand Prix final. Unfortunately for the Europeans, there tournaments in China, Hong Kong and Singapore were canceled," he said.

"It leaves only two tournaments in Asia. We'll have to wait for what IBF has to say about this because it's not the players' fault." (nvn)