No smokers at Thomas, Uber cups finals

JAKARTA (JP): More comfort is offered to players and spectators at the Thomas and Uber Cup world badminton team championships as the venue will be a no smoking area.

"We will ban smokers in the air-conditioned stadium since no air cleaners have been installed there," chairman of the organizing committee Titus Kurniadi said on Wednesday.

Complaints have long been made by players as well as non smoking spectators, troubled by ceaselessly smoke-filled stadium. Until now no rules prevented people from smoking while watching a match.

Titus guaranteed that those who go outside for a smoke will not find someone else in their seats. "We sell no more tickets than the stadiums capacity," he said.

A total of 7,000 tickets are available every day during the May 10-21 competitions staged at the 10,000-seat arena. Two private banks Lippo and BII will provide tickets according to an agreement with the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) signed over the weekend. The ticket price starts from Rp 2,500 (US$1.17).

The management of Senayan sports complex has installed 30 air conditioners at the 32-year-old stadium as part of renovations. The stadium also staged the 1975 Uber Cup finals, 1979 Thomas Cup finals and the 1986 Thomas Cup and Uber Cup finals.

Some badminton masters, including former world champion Icuk Sugiarto and doubles specialist Christian Hadinata, have warned that the new facilities will be detrimental to the players due to the wind generated by full-capacity blowers which causes the shuttlecock to drift.

The Indonesian shuttlers are scheduled to try the air- conditioned stadium on Monday. (amd)