Lydia to replace Mia in SEA Games
Lydia to replace Mia in SEA Games
JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia decided on Saturday to replace injured Mia Audina with Lydia Djaelawidjaja for the 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, next week.
An official from the association, Lutfi Hamid, said Mia would continue her medical treatment after she straining her thigh in the World Grand Prix Finals match against Wang Chen of China.
"We made the decision merely for the sake of Mia's future," Lutfi said. He discussed the replacement with the association's deputy chairman Sumaryono and another executive Hadi Nasri before making his decision, he said.
Mia had reached match point when she tumbled in Thursday's final group match. The 15-year-old Indonesian received medical treatment on court, but had to finally give up.
A tournament doctor said Mia would need at least two weeks to recover. It is the fourth injury to hit the Indonesian badminton team as it prepares for the SEA Games. Susi Susanti, Hermawan Susanto and Ricky Subagja are all listed as injured.
Mia would have made her debut in the SEA Games as the second seed behind Susi Susanti. Her substitute Lydia will also make her first appearance in the Games.
Lydia, who also qualified for the Grand Prix Finals in Singapore, will enter Chiang Mai without changing the draw due to her world number two ranking behind Susi.
Lutfi made it clear that the association will not reconsider its set target of winning six of the seven badminton gold medals in Chiang Mai.
The SEA Games badminton competition will start on Dec. 9, the first day of the biennial event. Both the Indonesian men's and women's teams have received a bye. The Indonesian men's squad is expected to meet Malaysia in the final, while the women's team is tipped to play host Thailand in the gold medal race.
Indonesia swept the gold medals twice since joining the Games in 1977, first in 1981 and again in 1987. Malaysia has kept Indonesia from taking all seven gold medals in the last three meets. (amd)