Ra Kyung-min axed from S. Korean Uber Cup team
Ra Kyung-min axed from S. Korean Uber Cup team
JAKARTA (JP): South Korea surprisingly excluded women's and
mixed doubles specialist Ra Kyung-min from the Uber Cup team
despite her contribution in the qualifying round in New Delhi in
February.
A release from the International Badminton Federation (IBF) on
Thursday did not state a reason for Ra's exclusion. Korea named
Kim Ji-hyun, Lee Kyung-won, Kim Kyeung-ran, Si Jin-sun, Lee Hyo-
jung, Yim Kyung-jin, Chung Jae-hee, Jung Yeon-kyung and Kim So-
yeon to play in the cup in Kuala Lumpur from May 11 to May 21.
China is the heavy favorite to retain the Uber Cup for the
eighth time, with none of its team's players lower than fifth in
the IBF's singles and doubles rankings. The country -- relying on
Gong Zhichao, Dai Yun, Ye Zhaoying, Gong Ruina, Huang Nanyan, Gu
Jun, Ge Fei, Gao Ling, Yang Wei and Qin Yiyuan -- is expected to
face its toughest challenge from Denmark, which is seeking is
first win in the cup.
Denmark will field Camilla Martin, Mette Sorensen, Mette
Pedersen, Tine Rasmussen, Helene Kirkegaard, Rikke Olsen, Ann-Lou
Jorgensen, Mette Schjoldager, Majken Vange and Pernille Harder.
In the Thomas Cup, host Malaysia hopes to repeat its feat from
1992 when it defeated Indonesia in front of its home spectators.
Rashid Sidek is the team captain, with Commonwealth Games
champion Wong Choon Han and Ong Ewe Hock considered the backbones
of the squad.
Denmark will depend greatly on world number one Peter Gade
Christensen and 1996 Olympic Games gold medalist Poul-Erik Hoyer-
Larsen to become the first non-Asian country to win the cup.
However, Denmark is likely to face either China or Indonesia
in the semifinals. Despite injuries hampering its shuttlers,
defending champion Indonesia is optimistic of winning the Thomas
Cup for the 12th time.
China will not be a pushover for Denmark, with All England
champion Xia Xuanze and talented young shuttler Ji Xinpeng on the
team.
Separately, Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) chairman
Subagyo Hadisiswoyo signed a memorandum of understanding with
D.K. Seth of Sunrise, the distributor of Yonex sports equipment
and sportswear, to extend the four-year contract.
Players expressed hope that both PBSI and Sunrise would be
punctual in distributing the contract money to them.
Subagyo said PBSI would hand over copies of the contract to
shuttlers for them to study.
"I don't want any of our athletes not understanding the
essence of the contract. I hope when they understand, they won't
break the agreement on purpose."
Responding to players' complaints about the outmoded apparel
design, Seth said Yonex would provide new designs for all
countries competing in the Thomas and Uber cups. (yan)