Jakarta Open to go ahead: Organizing Committee

Jakarta Open to go ahead: Organizing Committee

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The possible withdrawal of the main sponsor for the upcoming
Jakarta Open badminton championship will not prevent the
organizers from pushing ahead with the event, a committee member
said on Wednesday.

Icuk Sugiarto, chairman of the organizing committee, said the
tournament would go ahead as scheduled at the Asia-Africa
Badminton Hall in Jakarta from April 14 through April 20.

"For the sake of badminton's image and the ongoing program,
the event must proceed. The committee will make all efforts ...
it's important that the show must go on," Icuk, who is also the
chairman of the Jakarta office of the Badminton Association of
Indonesia (PBSI), told a media conference.

Earlier in the day, Japanese racket producer Yonex announced
that it had put on hold a decision as to whether it would go
ahead with the previously agreed sponsorship arrangements.

"The deal with the main sponsor has already been made.
However, due to the unfortunate monetary situation brought about
by the Iraq war, Yonex has yet to confirm its commitment," Icuk
said.

A committee official, however, said that Yonex, through its
branch office in Singapore, had said it was unavailable for
sponsorship this time around due to economic uncertainties.

Eight clubs have already confirmed their participation in the
tournament, which is expected to feature foreign players. The
clubs come from the provinces of South Kalimantan, Central Java,
East Java and Jakarta.

"I'm sure that in the next three days more clubs will be
registering. Many of the participants usually only sign up at the
last minute," explained Icuk, the 1983 world champion, adding
that he expected a turnout of around 1,100 players as was the
case last year.

There is no registration fee with Icuk saying that this was
aimed at attracting as many participants as possible.

"We have also sent invitations to around 20 Asian countries.
We are waiting for their responses. We have asked the Asian
Badminton Confederation (ABC) to help disseminate the
information," he said.

The 2002 event saw players from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei
Darussalam among the participants.

Icuk said that the 2003 championship would become a satellite
event with the cash prizes being increased to a total of Rp 50
million (US$5,555).

Three categories will be contested: U-16, U-19 and seniors.

"Hopefully, the Jakarta Open can be made the cornerstone for
an Indonesian badminton revival," Icuk said referring to yet
another failure by the Indonesian badminton team, this time in
the Sudirman Cup mixed badminton championship in the Netherlands.

"Ex-Sudirman Cup players may join but this will need PBSI
approval. Particularly for the juniors, I expect them to make the
best of the event," he said.