Indonesia Open to attract top stars

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia gave its guarantee yesterday that its top players would take part in the Sony Badminton Indonesia Open 96 championships, which commences shortly after the Olympic Games conclude.

"It is an important tournament where our players will collect points to qualify for the Grand Prix final in December," Sumaryono, executive chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia, told a press conference yesterday.

"I think foreign players will do the same thing for the same reason. After the grueling Olympics, they will make a trip to Indonesia," he added.

The organizing committee expects 400 players from China, South Korea, Malaysia, Denmark and Sweden to flock Medan, North Sumatra, for the US$175,000 tournament, slated from Aug. 27 to Aug. 31. Medan will play host to the annual event for the first time.

"There will be more local people coming to watch the championships in Medan than if it took place in Jakarta," said Johannes, a member of the organizing committee.

The four-day competition will be held at the 4,000-seat IKIP Medan stadium.

During yesterday's conference, Japanese electronic company Sony, title sponsor of the championships, awarded an audio system to defending men's singles champion Ardy Wiranata, who is also the five-time winner.

"I'll do my best to defend my title," commented Ardy. (yan)