Mia says she's ready to assume Susi's role as badminton queen
Mia says she's ready to assume Susi's role as badminton queen
JAKARTA (JP): Olympic silver medalist Mia Audina said on
Monday she was ready to win an Asian Games gold medal in the
absence of the nation's badminton queen, her senior Susi Susanti.
Susi is in the early months of pregnancy and so Indonesia's
hopes to take the Asiad women's singles crown for the first time
rest with second-best Mia.
"I will be focusing on winning the Asiad gold medal. It's an
honor to take over Susi's leading role, so I'll do my best," Mia
said during training at the national badminton center in
Cipayung, East Jakarta.
Mia said her main aim heading into December's Asiad was to
improve her physical fitness, as many critics had urged her. The
17 year old has shown erratic form since finishing second in the
Atlanta Olympics two years ago. Having won no titles this season,
she is now ranked out of the world's top 10.
"Many people are criticizing my (physical) condition and I
find this very positive," said Mia.
Mia, who is coached by China's Liang Chiushia, also admitted
she was still short of shuttlecock-placing skills.
"I will take on lots of opponents in the Asiad and I still
have much to learn," she said.
Mia said her toughest opposition would come from Chinese trio
of world number one Ye Zhaoying, Gong Zhichao and Dai Yun. All of
them have beaten Mia several times.
Mia's last warm-ups before the Asian Games will be at the
Danish Open in Copenhagen from Oct. 14 to Oct. 18 and the
Indonesia Open from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1.
The Asiad takes place from Dec. 6 to Dec. 20.
Other than Mia, Indonesia has named Hariyanto Arbi and Taufik
Hidayat for the men's singles competition, Ricky Subagja/Rexy
Mainaky and Candra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto for the men's doubles,
Elysa/Deyana Lomban for the women's doubles and Tri
Kusherjanto/Minarti Timur for the mixed doubles.
Susi has won all major badminton titles, including the Olympic
gold medal in 1992, but the Asiad. She married her fellow
Barcelona Olympic champion Alan Budikusuma in March 1997.
The Badminton Association of Indonesia has set a target of
winning four golds in the Asiad, two more than the National
Sports Council's prediction.
Indonesian shuttlers bagged three golds in the last Asiad in
Hiroshima, Japan, four years ago. (yan)