Indonesia to face another Chinese test
Indonesia to face another Chinese test
JAKARTA (JP): A weakened Indonesian side is facing treacherous
opposition from a rejuvenated China in the Asia Cup badminton
championships in Qing Dao, next week.
The Badminton Association of Indonesia has rested world
champion Hariyanto Arbi and out-of-form Susi Susanti for the June
14-18 event, adding to Indonesia's major absentees list.
With Ardy Wiranata, Olympic gold medalist Alan Budikusuma and
world doubles champions Rexy Mainaky and Ricky Subagja also
missing from the tournament, the Indonesian men's team will rely
on old-crack Joko Suprianto and Hermawan Susanto.
All-England runners-up Gunawan and Bambang Suprianto serve as
substitutes for Ricky and Rexy and are Indonesia's sole hopefuls
in the men's doubles.
Mia Audina, a quarterfinalist in the world championships, will
have to struggle alone in the women's singles against an
invincible Chinese team, spearheaded by world champion Ye
Zhaoying and her runner-up Han Jingna.
In the mixed doubles, Trikus Heryanto and Minarti Timur will
be seeking their first title of the year and an end to their
losing streak.
"Hariyanto and Susi have yet to recover after long and tense
competition," Iwan Setiawan, of the association, said. "Their
absence is also a part of our energy saving strategy prior to the
Olympic Games in Atlanta next year," he added.
Favorite Indonesia fell to China 1-3 in the last hurdle at the
Sudirman Cup mixed team championship in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The spirited Chinese took a winning 3-0 lead on their way to
their first championship title.
Iwan hinted that Indonesia is relying on its men's and women's
singles and men's doubles for the gold medal race in the 1996
Olympics badminton competition. Badminton will offer five golds
when it makes its second appearance at the Olympics.
Hariyanto, smarting from his shocking defeat to Sun Jun in the
Sudirman Cup final, overcame Asia champion Park Sung-woo in the
world championships. The 23-year-old player now tightens his grip
on the top of the latest world rankings, as issued by the
International Badminton Federation on Monday.
Worst
Susi, in contrast, capped her worst ever performance when she
crashed to Ye in the world championships semifinals, her second
loss to the same player within just a week.
To add insult to injury, Susi hands in her number one tag,
that she has held since 1992, to Bang Soo-hyun of South Korea.
Asian Games champion Bang joined Susi as surprising casualties in
the world championships semifinals.
"We failed in the world championships. I'm so sorry about
that," Iwan, who was the Indonesian team manager to the biennial
tournament, said.
Earlier Indonesia had set a target of winning back the
Sudirman Cup mixed team trophy, as well as three titles in the
world championships.
Iwan criticized his own team for being uninformed about their
opponents and having no time to regroup both its players and
coaches.
"From now on we will involve players when coaches give their
evaluation to the players' performance," said Iwan 9(amd).
Latest IBF rankings
Women's singles
1. Bang Soo-hyun (Kor) 325.53pts
2. Susi Susanti (Ina) 323.38
3. Ye Zhaoying (Chn) 283.09
4. Lim Xiaoqing (Swe) 263.07
5. Camilla Martin (Den) 239.88
6. Mia Audina (Ina) 237.49
7. Ra Kyung-min (Kor) 236.71
8. Han Jingna (Chn) 210.01
9. Yuliani Sentosa (Ina) 176.69
10. Yao Yan (Chn) 174.27
Men's singles
1. Hariyanto Arbi (Ina) 332.45
2. Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen (Den) 264.48
3. Ardy Wiranata (Ina) 247.04
4. Hermawan Susanto (Ina) 241.70
5. Park Sung-woo (Kor) 241.58
6. Alan Budikusuma (Ina) 241.14
7. Joko Suprianto (Ina) 235.08
8. Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen (Den) 224.72
9. Sun Jun (Chn) 201.86
10. Lee Kwan-jin (Kor) 198.72