Indonesia favored in Sudirman Cup
Indonesia favored in Sudirman Cup
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has an excellent chance to complete
its badminton supremacy with a Sudirman Cup mixed team
championships victory in Lausanne, Switzerland, a badminton
legend says.
"With a pack of star players whose skills are relatively
equal, Indonesia is an odds-on favorite to bring the Cup back
home," Rudy Hartono said during the celebration of the Badminton
Association of Indonesia (PBSI) 44th anniversary at the Senayan
indoor stadium yesterday.
Badminton maestro Rudy, an eight-time All England champion and
the 1980 world champion, said that Indonesia's strong men's and
women's singles and men's doubles would guarantee that the
Sudirman Cup would adorn PBSI's locker room along with the Thomas
and Uber Cups it won last year.
PBSI chief Soerjadi, chairman of the National Sports Council
Wismoyo Arismunandar, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono
Isman and old-time Indonesian shuttlers were all present at the
celebration.
The men's singles all-conquering team made up of world number
one Hariyanto Arbi, number two Ardy Wiranata, Hermawan Susanto
and world champion Joko Suprianto will join forces with world
badminton queen Susi Susanti, rising star Mia Audina and their
Uber Cup teammates at the May 17-22 championships.
World's top-three men's pairs of Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky,
Rudy Gunawan/Bambang Suprianto and Antonius/Denny Kantono will
also work to spur their team to a world team championships
treble.
Olympic men's singles gold medalist Alan Budikusuma will miss
another chance to represent Indonesia in team events. He was
sidelined in Thomas Cup and Asian Games team competition last
year. Alan, however, will try to make amends for his
disappointing performance in the world championships held two
days after the Sudirman Cup.
"Indonesia should beware of psychological exhaustion, which
could happen during such tight, nerve-wracking competitions,"
Rudy said.
Indonesia is grouped with Denmark and Thailand, against whom
they will play round-robin matches. The other group includes
defending champion South Korea, China and England. The top two
teams of each group will meet in cross-over semifinals.
South Korea, with strong doubles teams, ended Indonesia's run
in the last two Sudirman Cup finals. Indonesia won the inaugural
championships here in 1989.
Exhibition matches capped yesterday's celebration, to the
delight of 2,000 crowd. Susi beat her teammate Yuni Kartika 11-5,
11-7 and Danny Kantono/Antonius needed only a set to beat their
seniors Gunawan/Bambang, after Gunawan pulled out of the exciting
match with a twisted ankle. (amd)