Only 3 entries for Junior Indonesia Open

JAKARTA (JP): Only Japan, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam have confirmed their participation in badminton's Milo Junior Indonesia Open in Surakarta, West Java, this month.

Meanwhile Russia, Hong Kong and Canada have yet to submit the names of their players.

The event's organizer PT Gematama Kreasindo president director Minarni Soedarjanto told a press conference on Friday that the three countries were concerned about Indonesia's tense political situation, especially after the House of Representatives called on the People's Consultative Assembly to hold a special session, scheduled for Aug. 1, to demand that President Abdurrahman Wahid account for his administration's performance.

"Russia, Hong Kong and Canada are afraid to come here. I even spoke to Badminton Association of Thailand chairman Charoen Wattanasin, who said he might not send a team due to the tension.

"Even Chinese Taipei, which had confirmed, had to cancel their participation because they had problems requesting visas," she said.

Minarni, a badminton star in the 1960s, also said that badminton powerhouses China, South Korea and Denmark would not send their teams for the June 12 to 16 event.

"We have offered the Badminton Association of China airplane tickets and accommodation but they still don't want to come."

However, Minarni was still hoping that more countries would be willing to participate, and said that she would wait for confirmation before the drawing takes place on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Badminton Center junior coach Joko Suprianto said that the absence of badminton powerhouses would give his athletes a great chance of winning the US$9,000 event.

"With the absence of the strong countries, our shuttlers should be able to prove their skills by winning the titles. But we must also realize that the absence of those countries will reduce the event's prestige," he said.

Joko also said the tournament would be used to select a team for the Junior Asian Championships, to be held in Taipei in August.

"We are also aiming to pick the best mixed and boys doubles to join the team from the tournament as we no longer have juniors in both events at the center," Joko said.

Joko praised Milo and the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) for staging the event after a four-year dormancy.

Indonesia's number one junior shuttler Sonny Dwi Kuncoro -- a 2000 Junior World Championships and 2000 Junior Asian Championships finalist -- hoped to be able to win the boys title.

"Playing before the home crowd will give me an advantage and I will work hard to fulfill my aim to become champion," he said.

PT Nestle Indonesia's beverage vice president Muhammed Hamza also hoped that the event would produce future champions for Indonesia and help promote badminton in general.

"We also aim to be associated with badminton through a long- term sponsorship deal," he added. (yan)