Not much change forecast in world of badminton

Not much change forecast in world of badminton

JAKARTA (JP): World badminton standings won't change much with
Indonesia's men shuttlers reigning throughout next year, coach
Triaji predicted on Tuesday.

An all-Indonesian final at the US$325,000 World Grand Prix
badminton finals in Singapore earlier this month indicated that
Indonesia's foothold in the men's singles remained as solid as
ever, Triaji said.

In the all-Indonesian finals, veteran Joko Suprianto conquered
defending champion Ardy Wiranata 15-3, 6-15, 15-6 at the
Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Triaji offered his forecast on Tuesday after the Indonesian
contingent to the just-concluded 18th Southeast Asian Games in
Chiang Mai, Thailand, was formally dismissed at the National
Sports Council headquarters.

"Next year's badminton tournaments, including the badminton
competition at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, will see more
or less the same players we saw at the Singapore GP finals,"
Triaji insisted.

Next year two important badminton events for Indonesian male
shuttlers, the Thomas Cup in May and the Atlanta Olympic Games in
July, will be held. Indonesia is very likely to defend the Cup
and snatch the Olympic gold medal in the men's singles, Triaji
said.

But he also warned that in the men's doubles, threats will
come from China and Malaysia.

At the Chiang Mai SEA Games, Malaysia's Cheah Soon Kit and Yam
Kim Hock shot down world number one doubles Ricky Subagja and
Rexy Mainaky 15-13, 15-9.

China's Dong Jiong is gaining skill and European veterans can
become dark horses in the men's singles.

In Tokyo, Indonesian and Chinese ace shuttlers top the seed of
the 15th Yonex Open badminton championships scheduled to begin on
Jan. 16 and conclude on Jan. 21.

Japan

Host Japan will try to hold South Korea because Indonesia and
China are too strong for Japanese shuttlers, Takeshi Azama,
chairman of the Japan Badminton Association, was quoted as saying
by Antara on Tuesday.

Thirty countries, including Sweden, England, Australia,
Russia, Chinese Taipei and Denmark, will compete in the
US$150,000 Tokyo championships.

To secure a berth in the Atlanta Olympic Games, Yonex Open
participants must collect points from the two other championships
in Chinese Taipei and France.

Badminton queen Susi Susanti, world number one singles
Haryanto Arbi and doubles Ricky and Rexy won last year's Yonex
Open.

China's Ge Fei and Gu Jun won last year's women's doubles,
while Denmark's Thomas Lund and Marlene Thomsen clinched the
mixed doubles. (arf)

Line-up of Indonesian shuttlers at Yonex Open

Men's singles: Haryanto Arbi, Joko Suprianto, Alan Budikusuma,
Ardi Wiranata, Hermawan Susanto.

Women's singles: Susi Susanti, Mia Audina, Lidya Djaelawidjaya.

Men's doubles: Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky, Gunawan/Bambang
Suprianto, Tony Gunawan and Rudy Wijaya.

Women's doubles: Lili Tampi/Finarsih, Eliza/Zelin Resiana.

Mixed doubles: Trikus Heryanto/Minarti Timur.