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