More entries sought for badminton tourney
JAKARTA (JP): Organizers of the Sanyo Indonesia Open Badminton Championships are holding out for more entries despite Friday's official registration closure for the tournament.
Secretary-general of the Badminton Association of Indonesia Leo Ch. Wiranata told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that countries could still submit names of participants even after the entries are submitted to the International Badminton Federation (IBF) next week for the drawing.
"If we have already sent the list, they can send their athletes' names directly to the IBF," he said.
The association and the tournament promoter, the International Management Group, are staging the US$120,000 Indonesia Open at the Senayan Indoor stadium from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1.
Lack of sponsors has forced the organizers to reduce the prize purse from last year's $200,000, a move which automatically lowered the tournament's ranking from five stars to four.
Malaysia confirmed its participation on Friday evening by submitting names of second-string players Yong Hock Kin, Yap Yong Jyen, James Chua in the men's singles and Pang Cheh Chang/Cheah Soon Thoe, Lee Wan Wah/Chew Choon Eng, Chang Chong Ming/Jeremy Gan in the men's doubles. Danish coach Morten Frost Hansen will accompany the team.
Poland, the Netherlands and Brunei Darussalam confirmed earlier this week. Nigeria is also set to send a team.
On Wednesday, Denmark confirmed it would send a full-strength team, including the 1996 Olympic gold medalist Poul-Erik Hoyer- Larsen, the 1997 World Champion Peter Rasmussen and current world number one Peter Gade Christensen.
Meanwhile, Indonesian men's doubles player Sigit Budiarto, who partners Candra Wijaya, fears he may be absent from the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok from Dec. 6 to Dec. 20 because of a bout of typhoid last month.
"It depends on the coach and officials. But I'll be disappointed if I miss the Asiad," said the 1997 World Champion.
Coach Atik Jauhari urged Sigit to evaluate his form in the Indonesia Open before deciding if he could compete at the Asiad.
Due to his illness, Sigit could not play in the Denmark Open this month. Candra will partner Hermono.
"I really want to defend my title at the Indonesia Open but let's just wait and see," Sigit was quoted as saying by Antara.
Separately, the association's vice chairman Agus Wirahadikusumah said Indonesia's best hope in the women's singles, Mia Audina, had fallen into line after the association sent a warning letter to her about her relationship with boyfriend Tylio Lobman, which has disrupted her training.
"Mia understands about her behavior and she has tried hard to improve," Agus said.
Mia, the 1997 Japan Open winner and the singles silver medalist in the Atlanta Olympics, has suffered a title drought this year. She is expected to fill the shoes of Indonesia's badminton mainstay Susi Susanti, who is pregnant and expected to retire. Susi, who married fellow 1992 Olympic gold medalist Alan Budikusuma in early 1997, won the bronze at the 1996 Olympics. (yan)