Indonesia stands slimmer chance at next Uber Cup
Indonesia stands slimmer chance at next Uber Cup
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's chance of retaining the Uber Cup, the world women's team badminton championship, in Hong Kong next May, is getting slimmer, according to Indonesian badminton's living legend Rudy Hartono.
"Our double and second single players are weaker than those of China or South Korea. This will make it more difficult for us to retain the Cup than two years ago," said Rudy, whose eight All- England victories are included in the Guiness Book of Records.
Two years ago, on May 21, 1994, Indonesia captured its first Uber Cup title in 19 years after Susi Susanti and company nailed down a tense 3-2 victory over China.
Rudy's prediction is plausible, given the fact that only two Indonesians remain in the top ten of the latest world ranking issued by the International Badminton Federation on Feb. 2.
Indonesian badminton queen Susi Susanti, with 350 points, came second to her Chinese arch-rival Ye Zhaoying who has beaten her on many occasions lately. Another Indonesian hope and Uber Cup heroine, Mia Audina, was ranked fifth with 260 points while South Korea's Bang Soo-hyun is in third position with 337, followed by Lim Xiaoqing of Sweden.
The world rankings of Indonesian women doubles are discouraging, with Eliza and Zelin Resiana ranked fifth and Lily Tampi and Finarsih slipping from 10th to 11th place.
However, Rudy added that these weaknesses can be outweighed by a good strategy and preparation. Rudy made the comment at the breaking of the fast dinner at the residence of Soerjadi, the chairman of the Indonesian Badminton Association, over the weekend.
As for Indonesia's chance of keeping the Thomas Cup at home, Rudy said he was sure that the men's team should have no particular problems in keeping the Cup out of the other contenders clutches.
Rudy argued that Indonesian men's shuttlers still dominate world badminton. This was reflected in their latest world ranking list issued by the International Badminton Federation on Feb. 2.
Former number one Joko Suprianto is now number one again on the list after becoming champion at last month's Japan Open with a total of 360 points. Joko dethroned compatriot Hariyanto Arbi, who is now second to him with 336 points. Placed third on the list is another Indonesian and 1992 Barcelona Olympic gold medalist Alan Budi Kusuma. Two other Indonesian single players, Ardy Bernadus Wiranata and Hermawan Susanto, are in sixth and seventh positions respectively. Ranked fourth and fifth on the list is Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen of Denmark and Dong Jiong of China. (arf)
The men's and women's world badminton rankings issued by the International Badminton Federation on Feb. 2:
Men's: 1. Joko Suprianto (Ina) 360 points 2. Heryanto Arbi (Ina) 336 3. Allan Budi Kusuma (Ina) 304 4. Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen (Den) 292 5. Jiong Dong (Chn) 283 6. Ardy Wiranata (Ina) 279 7. Hermawan Susanto (Ina) 266 8. Park Sung-woo (Kor) 248 9. Rashid Sidek (Mal) 225 10. Fung Permadi (Tpe) 217
Women's: 1. Ye Zhaoying (Chn) 369 2. Susi Susanti (Ina) 350 3. Bang Soo-hyun (Kor) 337 4. Lim Xiaoqing (Swe) 303 5. Mia Audina (Ina) 260 6. Camilla Martin (Den) 249 7. Wang Chen (Chn) 249 8. Han Jingna (Chn) 245 9. Yao Yan (Chn) 231 10. Kim Ji-hyun (Kor) 218