Indonesian shuttlers target two titles in Singapore Open

Indonesian shuttlers target two titles in Singapore Open

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) is
banking on its shuttlers taking the men's singles and men's
doubles in the US$150,000 Konica Cup Singapore Open, which starts
Wednesday.

PBSI deputy for athletes development Hadi Nazri said on
Tuesday that although the association primarily expected its
shuttlers to use the event to improve their world rankings to
qualify for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, it also hoped to retain
its dominance in the sport, especially in the men's doubles.

"Our athletes are not allowed to make an early exit in the
first or second rounds. If they are not serious, they will lose
points needed to qualify for the Olympics," he said.

Indonesia is sending Hendrawan, Budi Santoso, Taufik Hidayat,
Hariyanto Arbi and Marlev Mainaky in the men's singles and three
men's doubles pairs of Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky, Candra
Wijaya and Tony Gunawan and Endra Mulyajaya and Hadi Saputra, a
new combination.

In the women's event, PBSI entered Yuli Marfuah in the singles
and Elysa Nathanael and Deyana Lomban and Indarti Issolina and
Carmelita in the doubles.

In the men's singles, 1999 SEA Games gold medalist Taufik
Hidayat will be tested by Malaysian Roslin Hashim if they reach
their appointed places in the third round. If the 18-year-old
Indonesian reaches the quarterfinals, he may face Dane Peter
Rasmussen, the 1997 World champion. In the semifinals, eighth-
seeded Taufik is likely to meet world number one and top seeded
Peter Gade Christensen of Denmark.

Hendrawan, the 1998 Asian Games silver medalist, will likely
encounter the 1999 Thailand Open champion Luo Yigang in the third
round before a probably meeting with Dane Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen,
the 1996 Olympics gold medalist, in the quarterfinals.

If Hendrawan, the sixth seed, reaches the semifinals, he is
likely to meet second seeded Fung Permadi, the Indonesian-born
veteran who plays for Chinese Taipei.

In the men's doubles, 1996 Olympics gold medalists Ricky and
Rexy will have their work cut out for them to overcome the 1999
World champions Kim Dong-moon and Ha Tae-kwon of South Korea, top
seeded in the tournament, if they meet in the quarters. The 1999
All England champions Candra and Tony, second seeded here, will
face Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong-sung of South Korea in the
semifinals if matches run according to seeding.

Hadi said all players in the National Badminton Center in
Cipayung, East Jakarta, were required to compete in eight
tournaments until the deadline for the qualifying round in April
2000.

"By the end of this year, we hope some of them will manage to
reach the top 10 in each event, if we are really serious in our
target to retain the gold medal in badminton. In April, we expect
them to be in the top four to enable us to reap the greatest
benefit from the making of the draw during the Olympics," he
said.

Hadi named Hendrawan, Budi and Taufik in the men's singles and
Cindana Hartono, Lidya Djaelawidjaja and Ellen Angelina in the
women's singles as the best candidates to qualify for the
Olympics. (yan)