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)