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)