Indonesia, Denmark, England grouped in Sudirman Cup

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will have a tough time reaching the semifinals in the Sudirman Cup mixed team badminton championship as it is in group 1B with runner-up Denmark and England, which was promoted from group 2.

Defending champion China, which has won the title three times since 1995, is in pool 1A with two-time winner South Korea and Sweden.

The Sudirman Cup -- taking place from May 2 until June 2 at San Pablo Stadium in Seville, Spain -- takes the form of round- robin group play in the opening stages, with teams then playing- off to determine an overall team world ranking.

The International Badminton Federation said in a news release that a total of 57 teams had entered this year, making this the second-highest entry for the tournament, after the 1997 Glasgow event.

Only three nations have won this biennial event since its inauguration in 1989 -- Indonesia took the initial title, South Korea won in 1991 and again in 1993 and reigning champion China has taken the Sudirman Cup home on the last three occasions.

The Badminton Association of Indonesia's (PBSI) secretary- general, Leo Chandra Wiranata, said that the draw results were as had been anticipated.

"There is no other way, there will be two strong teams in each group. The only thing we can do is field our best players," he was quoted as saying by Antara.

"It is very important because we have two weak links in the women's singles and doubles. But I think we can still pass England to reach the semifinals."

PBSI has made it public that it would only strive to reach the Cup's semifinals instead of trying to win it. PBSI has prioritized taking home titles in the World Championships at the same venue from June 3 to June 10.

Leo said taking the pool's leader or runner-up would be a strategic plan in the cross semifinals.

"The decision to win or just be second best in the group will depend on the other pool's result where we expect China or South Korea to grab the position. It's easier for us to play Korea.

"The Sudirman Cup is very exhausting. Countries which grab the title usually fail in the individual event."

A similar strategy is also being applied by Malaysia in its bid to reenter the world group in 2003. Malaysia was relegated to the second group following its poor result in 1999.

Malaysia will not field its top men's singles shuttlers, Roslin Hashim who has just two titles: one from the Swiss Open and the other from Japan Open. He will concentrate on the World Championships.

Roslin is currently world number two, after Dane Peter Gade Christensen, displacing Indonesia's Peter Taufik to third place for his absence in the Japan Open. Similar fates were suffered by Hendrawan now at No. 10 and Chinese Ji Xinpeng at No. 11.

There are no Indonesian shuttlers in the women's singles top 10 where Camilla Martin of Denmark tops the list followed by Zhou Mi and Gong Ruina. Indonesia's Lidya Djaelawidjaja is No. 22 followed by Ellen Angelina at No. 31 and Yuli Marfuah at No. 36.

Men's doubles Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian still top the list followed by Jens Eriksen and Jesper Larsen of Denmark. Another Danish pair, Michael Sogaard and Jim Laugesen, is third.

Japan Open title holders Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto are No. 10 followed by All England winners Tony Gunawan and Halim Heryanto.

Chinese women's doubles Huang Nanyan and Yang Wei top the list followed by Danish pairs Helena Kirkegaard and Rikke Olsen at second and Majken Vange and Pernille Harder at third. Indonesia's Deyana Lomban and Carmelita are No. 23.

Danes Michael Soogard and Rikke Olsen are the world No. 1 followed by Chinese Zhang Jun and Gao Ling. Danish Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager are third.

Japan Open winners Bambang Suprianto and Minarti Timur are currently No. 8 with second layer pair Nova Widhianto and Vita Marissa at No. 14 while Tri Kusheryanto and Indarti Issoliana are No. 37. (nvn)