Olympic medalists miss World Cup
Olympic medalists miss World Cup
JAKARTA (JP): Olympic gold medalists Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen of
Denmark and South Korean Bang Soo-hyun will miss the Sanyo World
Cup Badminton Championship next month.
Second seed Joko Suprianto of Indonesia replaces Hoyer-Larsen
as the top seed in the US$190,000 invitational tournament, to be
staged at the Senayan Indoor Stadium from Dec. 11 to Dec. 15.
Fellow Indonesians Hariyanto Arbi, who is still suffering
injuries, and Alan Budikusuma, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist,
are now seeded third and fourth respectively.
The three host shuttlers are facing tough challenges from Dong
Jiong of China, the Olympic silver medalist, and another Chinese
Sun Jun. Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen of Denmark, Malaysian Ong Ewe
Hock and Fung Permadi of China Taipei can also pose real danger
to Indonesian shuttlers.
Out of the 16 men's shuttlers, only Peter Rasmussen of Denmark
has yet to confirm his participation.
In the absence of Olympic gold medalist Bang, Susi and Olympic
bronze medalist Mia Audina have greater chances of winning the
championship.
Both shuttlers can expect daunting opposition from Chinese Ye
Zhaoying and Wang Chen, seeded third and fifth, and fourth seed
Camilla Martin of Denmark, who beat Mia in the Thailand Open
final.
Indonesia's best men's doubles team, the Olympic gold
medalists Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky are seeded third only
behind teammates Denny Kantono/Antonius and Olympic silver
medalists Cheah Soon Kit/Yap Kim Hock of Malaysia.
In the women's doubles, Eliza/Zelin Rosiana are the only
Indonesian pair on the list. Their entry, however, looks doubtful
after they withdrew from the Grand Prix Finals earlier in
December due to measles.
Chinese world number one doubles Ge Fei/Gu Jun and Danish pair
of Helene Kirkegaard/Rikke Olsen will be the strongest contenders
for the title.
World mixed doubles number one Trikus Heryanto/Minarti Timur
are seeded first. Michael Sogaard/Rikke Olsen of Denmark and
Chinese Chen Xingdong/Peng Xingyong are among the world-beating
pairs expected to attend. (yan)