JP/6/PBSI
PBSI gives second stringers more opportunities
JAKARTA (JP): Organizers of the US$30,000 Hong Kong Open badminton championships have invited four Indonesian shuttlers to take part in the event and have promised to cover all their expenses during the competition, which will run from Wednesday through Sunday.
The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has registered young shuttlers Ardiansyah and Sony Dwi Kuncoro in the men's singles and Dewi Tira in the women's singles. The fourth shuttler, Silvi Antarini, resigned due to poor health.
"The event was not part of our agenda, to some extent because we were busy with the Kuala Lumpur 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. Another reason was the event is only rated as a one-star one," PBSI's secretary-general Leo Chandra Wiranata told reporters on Monday.
In its letter dated Sept. 13, the event's organizers requested the PBSI to send its shuttlers to the tournament.
Leo also announced plans by the PBSI to send more of its second-stringers and young shuttlers, especially doubles specialists, to badminton events included in the Grand Prix series.
Second string men's singles Rony Agustinus and Johan Hadikusuma will accompany veteran Haryanto Arbi to the German Open to be held from Oct. 2 to Oct. 7. No women's singles players are included in the team after the withdrawal of Atu Rosalina and Chindana Hartono.
Junior doubles player Luluk Hadiyanto will team up with world- class teammate Halim Heryanto for the German outing, in addition to new faces Alven Yulianto and Hendra Gunawan.
Indonesia's strongest women's doubles pair of Deyana Lomban and Vita Marissa will add to the list, alongside their junior teammates Eny Erlangga and Jo Novita.
Vita will also play in the mixed doubles with Nova Widhianto, while Alven will pair Eny, and Hendra teams up with Jo.
In the following week, the PBSI will parade a bigger team that includes veteran players at the $75,000 Dutch Open to be held from Oct. 9 to Oct. 14.
Among the additional shuttlers are Indonesia's current top female player Lidya Djaelawidjaya and her bridesmaid Atu Rosalina.
There will be a slight change in the men's doubles entries, with the inclusion of old hand Tri Kusheryanto who will partner Nova in the men's doubles event.
Tri will also play in the mixed doubles with his fellow senior Emma Ermawati.
A star-studded pack will represent Indonesia at the $250,000 Danish Open, scheduled to take place from Oct. 16 until Oct. 21.
Trying to put the failure in the men's singles event at the Kuala Lumpur 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games behind it, the PBSI has registered world champion Hendrawan, Indonesian Open winner Marlev Mainaky and Singapore Open winner Taufik Hidayat for Copenhagen, alongside Rony and Johan.
Falling short of potential talents in the women's singles event, PBSI will resort to Lidya and Atu.
Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto are tipped as the favorites to take the men's doubles title at the Danish Open, apart from dark horses Tri and Bambang Suprianto. Second string pairs of Alven and Hendra as well as Halim and Luluk will be given a shot at the high profile event. (nvn)