PBSI to field top players in Asia Cup next month

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) is determined to defend its title at the Asia Cup next month in Singapore and will field its top players at the US$180,000 event.

Newly crowned men's doubles Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto, winners of the Japan Open, world number two Taufik Hidayat and Olympics silver medalist Hendrawan are on the country's squad to ensure victory.

"The shuttlers must do their best to defend the title although PBSI isn't setting a target for them," PBSI's secretary-general Leo Chandra Wiranata said on Wednesday.

"The competition will be tougher this year, with China and Malaysia as our main contenders. They must also be careful with young shuttlers from South Korea."

The Asia Cup, slated for May 2 through May 6, is a biennial invitational men's team event introduced for the first time in 1997. Indonesia has won the Cup every time.

Speaking on the relocation of the five-star Sanyo Indonesia Open from Surabaya to capital Jakarta due to security reasons, Leo said PBSI would send an official letter to its East Java chapter on the decision.

"I don't think the chapter will suffer significant financial losses but it will indeed suffer psychological losses. I must also admit the relocation may deter chapters from bidding to host the Indonesia Open in the future.

"PBSI faced a difficult dilemma in fulfilling its commitment to stage more major badminton events in big cities other than Jakarta.

"But let us not think in such a negative way. There is still ample time for next year's event and let us also hope that our country's condition will improve by then."

In Kuala Lumpur, Bernama news agency reported that Malaysia's top shuttler Roslin Hashim would not be forced to play in the Sudirman Cup as it would be wise for him to concentrate on the world championships.

Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Datuk Nadzmi Salleh gave assurances on Wednesday that the Nusa Mahsuri professional could opt to concentrate on his quest for the singles title at the world meet.

"I think he should play only in the world championships. He is our best hope to register an encouraging result at the world meet."

The World Championships will be held from June 3 to June 10 just after the Sudirman Cup mixed team event from May 28 to June 2. Both championships will be held in Seville, Spain. (nvn)