Lidya declared fit for Uber Cup

Lidya declared fit for Uber Cup

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Following much speculation about her fitness, Lidya Djaelawijaya
has been named the number one singles player in the Indonesian
women's team for the upcoming Uber Cup.

"She is eighty percent fit and should be ready for the
matches," team manager Yacob Rusdianto said from Surabaya, East
Java, in a tele-conference with reporters at the National Sports
Council (KONI) headquarters in Central Jakarta on Monday.

Lidya sustained a back injury during a training session ahead
of her departure for the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur last
September. She took part in the games despite her injury, even
managing to reach the final, where she claimed the silver medal.

She was earlier placed on an evaluation list pending her
recovery from injury. Yacob said that she had been included in
the Indonesian team, whose members had been registered with
organizers last Saturday.

The upcoming Uber Cup, the world's pre-eminent female team
badminton event, which is contested every two years, will take
place in Guangzhou, China, in May. China is the defending
champion.

The men's version of the trophy -- the Thomas Cup -- which
Indonesia holds, will also be up for grabs.

To book themselves a ticket to Guangzhou, Indonesia's female
players must first go through a qualifying tournament in
Melbourne, Australia, from Feb. 20 to Feb. 24.

Indonesia is drawn with Australia, Pakistan, South Korea and
Thailand.

Currently ranked tenth in the world, the highest of the team's
members, Lidya will be Indonesia's number one singles player at
the tournament.

Indonesia's singles ranks comprise Lidya, Atu Rosalina (23),
Ellen Angelina (30) and junior Dian Novita, while the doubles
team brings together seniors Minarti Timur and Emma Ermawati,
second stringers Deyana Lomban and Vita Marissa and juniors Eny
Erlangga and Jo Novita.

Yacob said that, with departure for Melbourne scheduled for
Feb. 15, the team would be looking to intensify its preparations
at the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.

Asked about their opponents in the qualifying matches, Yacob
refused to nominate a particular rival and said that they were
simply looking forward to qualifying for Guangzhou.

"We will not let ourselves be preoccupied with ambitions to
win the group. We will be looking just to qualify," he said.

Indonesia is to play Pakistan and Thailand on Feb. 20 and
Australia and Korea on Feb. 22. The first match will be staged in
the afternoon and the second in the evening.