Players agree with IBF's World Cup changes

Players agree with IBF's World Cup changes

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Players have supported the International
Badminton Federation's decision to stage the last World Cup
badminton championship here.

Malaysia's men's singles player Ong Ewe Hock said yesterday
after practice that he agreed with the decision.

"It depends on the IBF to stop the World Cup," he said.

Ong said the championship is invitational and does not
influence the players' world ranking whether they win or lose.

The IBF decided last year to replace the championship with a
series of Grand Slam tournaments, as in tennis.

The Grand Slam will consist of seven major tournaments -- four
tournaments in Asia, two in Europe and one in the U.S. Only the
16 best players are allowed to compete at the Grand Slam.

Indonesia's former World Champion, Hariyanto Arbi, said he
does not object the decision.

"If it's for the better, I don't mind," he said. "The World
Cup is interesting because only the best players are invited.
Unfortunately, Denmark won't send their best this year."

Darren Hall of England said: "The World Cup is good but a
Grand Slam will make it more attractive and provide more prize
money."

South Korean coach Kim Moon-soo said he did not know if this
would be the last World Cup.

"The World Cup is good because it uses round-robin and the
players have the same quality."

The Badminton Association of Indonesia's secretary-general RAJ
Gosal said that for the last three years only Indonesia has been
able to stage the annual event.

"We don't know why other countries decline to stage it but
we're the only country which has been host," he said.

Kinji Zeniya, an official of the Japanese team who is also
working for sponsor Sanyo, agreed the World Cup was a good
platform for top players to compete.

"But I agree if next year the IBF decides to stage the Grand
Slam," he said.

Kinji said Japan has never staged the World Cup because
badminton is not a very popular sport in his country and it would
cost a lot of money.

The World Cup provides a lot of money to its participants.

Winner of the men's singles will receive US$13,000, while the
women's singles winner will get $10,000. Men's doubles winner
will receive $14,000, women's doubles winner $12,000 and mixed
doubles winner will receive $10,000.

Runners-ups in the singles will receive $1,000 and in the
doubles $2,500.

IBF Vice President Jeff Robson said the federation has decided
to replace the World Cup with the Grand Slam, which is expected
to be bigger and more exciting. (yan)