Indonesian shuttlers chasing Olympic slots

Indonesian shuttlers chasing Olympic slots

Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian shuttlers are preparing to compete in the US$50,000
Thailand Open, with the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
concerned about its athletes' chances of qualifying for the 2004
Olympics.

To be held from Jan. 20 to Jan. 25, the two-star Thailand
tournament is one of those on the International Badminton
Federation (IBF)'s calender that provides points for Olympic
qualification.

Christian Hadinata, director of the national training center,
said the tournament would provide an opportunity for the
shuttlers to collect points to boost their chance of Olympic
qualification.

"The players must get enough points to qualify. We'll know in
April how many points are needed. Therefore, the PBSI will try to
make the best of even the lower-grade competitions," Christian
told The Jakarta Post here on Monday.

The PBSI will send about 25 players to Bangkok. Most of them
are second-layer athletes from the Cipayung national training
center.

"We could send them to higher-grade competitions, but they
would have a slim chance of winning points," Christian said.

Sony Dwi Kuncoro, who won a gold medal at the Southeast Asian
(SEA) Games in Vietnam last December, is not among those
shuttlers heading to Bangkok. The two-time Asian champion is
preparing for the three-star Swiss Open in March.

Sony's absence will give his younger teammates Simon Santosa,
Andre Kurniawan and Wiempie Mahardi the opportunity to prove
themselves.

Also to be missing in Bangkok will be veteran pair Flandy
Limpele/Eng Hian, who will take part in the US$80,000 Swiss Open
as well as the US$125,000 All-England tournament.

The Korea Open and the Asian Championships are another two
tournaments with Olympic points up for grabs.

The men's pair of Candra Wijaya/Halim Haryanto, who just
returned from their victorious run in the Copenhagen Master at
the end of December, are the only big-name players scheduled to
play in Bangkok.

Christian said he expected Candra/Halim, as well as Luluk
Hadiyanto/Alven Yulianto and the women's doubles pair of Jo
Novita/Lita Nurlita, to secure Olympic qualification points in
Thailand.

Jo/Lita will be joined in Bangkok by the newly paired Lyliana
Natsir/Rintan Aprilia.

Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan and Hendra Apriadi Gunawan/Joko
Riyadi are among the young Indonesian pairs who have also been
included on the team.

About Simon, who helped Indonesia win the team event at the
SEA Games, Christian said: "It's a long way for Simon to qualify
for the Olympics. However, he might still be able to make it."

Other Indonesians making the trip to Bangkok are Anggun
Nugroho/Eny Widyowati, Mohammad Rizal/Nelli Triana and Titon
Gustaman/Lelyana Daisy Chandra in the mixed doubles.

PBSI will not be sending any women's singles players to
Thailand after their disappointing performance in Vietnam,
Christian said.

"They will concentrate on their training at home before
participating in any competitions," he said.