PBSI wants IBF to warn China and South Korea

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) plans to petition the International Badminton Federation (IBF) to take steps on certain countries' absences in the US$150,000 Sanyo Indonesia Open.

PBSI deputy of athletic development, Hadi Nazri, told reporters on Tuesday that he would also ask PBSI chief of foreign affairs to urge the IBF to warning the countries.

China skipped the Indonesia Open for the third time since 1997. In 1997 when the tournament was held in Surakarta, Central Java, China said it had problems obtaining visas to enter Indonesia. In 1998, the badminton-powerhouse country failed to show up due to security reasons, especially after the May riots in which many people of Chinese descent were killed. This year, the Chinese used the same reason for skipping the tournament.

South Korea also missed the tournament for the second time due to financial restraints in sending its players here.

"Due to the circumstances, I think PBSI must reconsider sending our players to compete in the China Open in November," Hadi said, adding that in 1997 PBSI still sent shuttlers to China. In 1998, the Chinese Open had to be delayed.

"PBSI's foreign affairs section must lobby so that the Indonesia Open is still of good quality. Other countries must not be fearful of the political condition in the country, especially concerning security," he said.

Hadi said PBSI would also request the Asian Badminton Confederation (ABC) urge other Asian countries to compete in tournaments in the region.

"We regret that Asian countries don't support tournaments staged in the same region. I hope the ABC will take steps to overcome the problem."

Hadi said PBSI planned to send athletes to the Chinese Open later this year but the plan could be "delayed".

"Maybe we can send them to the Hong Kong Open later on or to tournaments in Europe," he said.

Hadi said PBSI and the Badminton Association of Denmark (DBF) had agreed to send each country's shuttlers to compete in tournaments staged in either country.

"The commitment is still being honored by both countries. That's a good example of friendship among badminton countries in the West and East."

PBSI always sends shuttlers to the Danish Open and the invitational Copenhagen Masters while DBF always sends players to the Indonesia Open. The Danish and Indonesian Opens are both top- tier events providing the highest number of ranking points.

On the contrary, top seeded and world number two Peter Gade Christensen of Denmark said the absence of Chinese players did not influence the quality of the tournament.

"We know Chinese players are strong but here I think the only player who could go to the semifinals is Sun Jun. Even without the Chinese, I think it's still prestigious, especially if I can win here." (yan)