Indonesia expects to win group A of Asia Cup

Indonesia expects to win group A of Asia Cup

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian team is optimistic that it will
win the group A match of the A King Asia Cup badminton
championship, which starts today, but not the entire US$150,000
tournament.

Coach Indra Gunawan yesterday praised Indonesia's young
shuttlers -- Budi Santoso, Indra Wijaya, Jeffer Rosobin, Tony
Gunawan and doubles Chandra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto -- but said
that had yet to compete in a team event.

"We'll see if they can overcome the pressure in a team event.
We're still worried about their inconsistent performances and
only push them to win the group matches. Our target is to get to
the finals," he said.

The Asia Cup, being staged for the first time at the Senayan
Indoor Tennis Stadium, features two singles and one doubles match
for male shuttlers only.

Indra said he agreed with the decision made by the Badminton
Association of Indonesia to only field juniors in the event.

"We would not field them in big tournaments like the Thomas
Cup or Sudirman Cup championships. This tournament is the best
way to give them experience in a team event," he said.

Indra said that all players showed up for practice yesterday
morning. He said he was considering fielding all of them in the
qualifying round to give the players a chance to get comfortable
with the court.

He warned his players to be prepared for problems such as the
lighting and the wind inside the stadium, and to not let them
affect their performances. He added that the presence of so many
young shuttlers would make the tournament more interesting for
spectators.

"Since they are young players and because they rarely meet in
international competitions, it is hard for us to predict who will
win," Indra said.

Indonesia will face tough challenges from Malaysia and South
Korea at the championships, which end Sunday. Chinese Taipei,
Hong Kong, Thailand and India will also compete.

"We should not underestimate Taipei, which will feature Fung
Permadi, and India. I'm sure two Indian shuttlers, who performed
at the just-concluded India Open, will also play here," he said.

Fung, an Indonesian shuttler who plays for Taipei, said that
the country would be sending juniors to the tournament, including
Chien Yu Hsun and Huang Shuh Chung, runner-ups in the doubles at
the 1996 World Junior Championship in Denmark.

Singles

Korea's team manager, Kim Young-man, is optimistic that his
team will be able to defeat Japan. Against Malaysia on the third
day of the tournament the team will rely on Park Sung-woo.

Malaysian coach Soffian Abubakar said that Malaysia will also
rely on its number-one singles player, Ong Ewe Hock, against
Korea.

"The first singles match is a critical match. If we win it, we
can win the rest," he said.

World-number-one doubles Chandra and Sigit said they will be
able to beat Korean's pair of Yoo Young-sun and Lee Dong-soo.

The association's secretary-general, RAJ Gosal, said that
India had confirmed its participation and would send four
athletes and two officials, though it has yet to send the
players' names.

"We expect them to arrive here tonight or tomorrow morning at
the latest," he said.

India replaced China after the latter withdrew from the
tournament due to internal problems between officials and
players.

Rudy Hartono, a representative from the Asia Badminton
Confederation, said the executive committee would meet on Feb. 22
to discuss how China would be penalized.

"It's difficult to decide because China will be absent from
the international tournament this month. If it sends players to
the India Open, then it has to be punished," said Rudy.

Indonesia meets India and Taipei faces Thailand in today's
group A matches. Hong Kong challenges Malaysia and Korea takes on
Japan in group B.

Tickets for the qualifying round will cost between Rp 3,000
($1.25) and Rp 7,500 and for the semifinals, while tickets for
the finals will cost between Rp 5,000 and Rp 10,000. (yan)