Indonesia's Mia, Alan to miss Asian Games

JAKARTA (JP): 1992 Olympic gold medalist Alan Budikusuma and Uber Cup heroine Mia Audina have revealed to the press that they will not be included in the country's badminton line-ups for the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima next October.

Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) itself is scheduled to announce the Asiad line-ups today. PBSI aims to win at least four gold medals in Hiroshima.

Alan was quoted by the Republika daily yesterday that he did not make it for the selection because PBSI found him "not fit enough for the event".

"They said that Hermawan Susanto should go to Hiroshima rather than me," Alan said referring to his team mate who is currently world number four.

He also said that he already knew about PBSI's decision during the Indonesia Open in Yogyakarta two weeks ago.

"I'm not bitter about this, I accept all decisions," added the player who is yet to win a championship title this year.

In the meantime, on a separate occasion, 15 year-old local favorite Mia Audina announced here Tuesday night that her ankle injury had prevented her from taking part in Asia's biggest sporting extravaganza.

"Actually I had even planned not to join the Open due to the injury," said Mia during her birthday celebration.

"But my daddy's birthday fell during that championship and I wanted to give him a victory as a present," she added.

Mia, however, failed to go past the semi-final in which she surrendered to South Korean Bang Soo Yun. (hdj)