PBSI chief Sutiyoso gets shot at ABC presidency

PBSI chief Sutiyoso gets shot at ABC presidency

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI),
Sutiyoso, looks likely to move up in the badminton hierarchy with
his being the only candidate for the Asian presidency.

On Thursday, the Jakarta governor disclosed he had been
nominated for the top position in the Asian Badminton
Confederation (ABC).

"I have been nominated by member countries to lead the ABC,"
Sutiyoso said. "It's good (for our badminton)," he added.

G. Sulistyanto, the PBSI chief in charge of overseas
relations, said that as many as 42 ABC member countries were
behind Sutiyoso.

The post became vacant after Kang Young-joong of South Korea
was elected to the International Badminton Federation (IBF)
presidency in Beijing earlier this month.

The ABC election will be held in Jakarta on July 17.

"This is the first time that an Indonesian has been nominated
as the sole candidate to chair the ABC," said Sulistyanto, who is
the vice president of the ABC.

As there are no other candidates, it is most likely that
Sutiyoso will land the ABC top job. According to Sulistyanto,
this will help contribute to Indonesia's badminton development
program.

July's convention will coincide with the Asian junior
badminton championship, which is scheduled for July 11-17.

Nostalgic exhibition games have also been arranged for July
16, which are expected to be attended by past badminton stars
such as Morten Frost Hansen of Denmark, Han Jian and Yang Yang of
China, Misbun Sidek, Razif Sidek, and Jaelani Sidek of Malaysia,
Prakash Padukone of India and local heroes Icuk Sugiarto, Rudi
Hartono, and Tan Joe Hok.