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)