Indonesia eying world mixed team title
Indonesia eying world mixed team title
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is preparing for the Sudirman Cup mixed team championships on a larger scale than it is for the World Championships, when the two major badminton tournaments are on stage in two week's time in Switzerland.
National head coach Indra Gunawan said yesterday his 29-strong team was all set to regain the team championship title in addition to the Thomas and Uber Cups they won last year.
"Personally speaking, winning the Sudirman Cup looks more prestigious than triumphing in the World Championships," Indra said. "We have to wait for another two years if we are down in the upcoming Sudirman Cup."
Indonesia won the inaugural Sudirman Cup in 1989 at home but fell in the last hurdles twice at the hand of South Korea. The cup is named after Sudirman, Indonesia's badminton founding father, who died in 1986 at the age of 64.
The upcoming Sudirman Cup and the World Championships will take place successively from May 17 to 28 in Lausanne, Switzerland. The mixed team tournament will contest five rubbers under the order of women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, men's singles and mixed doubles.
Both events will award ranking points to the participating players, who are in pursuit of places in the 1996 Olympic Games, to be held in Atlanta.
"It doesn't matter if we lose in the World Championships, since there are still many tournaments offering big ranking points," said Indra.
Indonesia suffered a narrow 2-3 defeat in the 1993 Sudirman Cup final in Birmingham, but bounced back to sweep three individual titles in the World Championships, through men's singles Joko Suprianto, women's singles Susi Susanti and men's doubles team of Ricky Subagja and Rudy Gunawan.
Joko, Susi, Ricky and Gunawan will show up in both championships, along with their triumphant Thomas Cup and Uber Cup teammates. Debutants will include men's singles Lioe Tiong Ping and women's shuttlers Mia Audina and Cindana.
Indra said his side remains heavy on men's singles, women's singles and men's doubles to win the coveted title.
Indonesia, South Korea, Denmark, China, England and Thailand have qualified for the Sudirman Cup finals. They will be split into two group and play round-robin matches. The top two teams will move to the cross-over semifinals.
Indra said that he was expecting another finals showdown with South Korea, the fourth finals meeting between the two badminton powerhouses since the inception of the Cup in 1989.
"South Korea is the strongest opponent so far, with Denmark and China a little bit weaker," Indra said.
The national team for the Lausanne championships will entertain their fans during simulation games at the Senayan indoor stadium on Friday. The matches will also cap the celebration of the Badminton Association of Indonesia's 44th anniversary. (amd)