National shuttlers consider contract dispute settled
JAKARTA (JP): National shuttlers consider the contract dispute between players and the Badminton Association of Indonesia as settled.
"The contract deal disagreement is finished now, since Pak Soerjadi (the association's chairman) promised to give us the money," national badminton queen Susi Susanti said.
Soerjadi said that there was a financial mistake in the association's reports and urged officials to solve the problem before April.
The association still has to pay the players US$197,000 for their August-September-October contract with Yonex, a Japanese sports equipment company.
"The problem is not only the money but more the lack of an honest and open explanation from officials. I think the problem was solved after we heard from Pak Soerjadi," Alan Budikusuma, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist, said.
The nation's top shuttler, Joko Suprianto, said that the players were happy to see that Soerjadi wanted to improve communication between officials and players.
Susi gave credit to Soerjadi, who was willing to gather all the players to explain the problems.
"It was not a big problem actually but since there was no openness between officials and players the situation was getting worse," she said.
About 50 players boycotted the New Year's party at Soerjadi's house to protest the late payment of their contract money.
Taipei Masters
Indonesia's men's doubles rookie pairing of Chandra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto won the men's doubles title at the Chinese Taipei Open Sunday after beating their seniors Antonius and Denny Kantono, the 1996 Olympic bronze medalists, 15-11, 15-2.
They also beat their compatriots and Olympic gold medalists Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky in the semifinals 15-7, 9-15, 15- 12.
"Chandra and Sigit's performance was incredible," coach Atik Jauhari said.
Chandra and Sigit won the US Open, China Open and Thailand Open last year.
A new partnership of Sandiarto and Finarsih beat the South Korean duo Lee Dong-soo and Park Soo-young 15-11, 15-8 in the mixed doubles final. The Indonesian duo beat top seeds Michael Soogard and Rikke Olsen of Denmark 4-15, 17-14, 15-10 in the semifinals.
Unfortunately, the country's young hope Mia Audina failed to overcome Camilla Martin of Denmark and lost 10-12, 2-11 in the final.
Mia, who beat Pornsawan Plungwech of Thailand 11-7, 11-0 in the semifinals, fell victim to her own impatience in trying to defeat Martin.
Junior Peter Gade Christensen of Denmark surprisingly beat the Olympic gold medalist Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen, also from Denmark, 15-10, 18-15 to win the men's singles final. (yan)