RI names China as threat in Asia Cup

JAKARTA (JP): Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) training director Christian Hadinata said on Thursday that Indonesia's only serious challenge in the JVC Asia Cup would be from China.

"China has two dangerous singles players, Sun Jun and Chen Hong, and its doubles of Zhang Jun and Yu Jinhao are dark horses. They could upset top players," he said in a telephone interview.

Sun is the world number one and Chen won the JVC Asian Badminton Championships in September. The new partnership of Zhang, who formerly partnered Zhang Wei, and Yu is expected to cause problems in the tournament in Ho Chi Minh City.

Indonesia will field world number three Taufik Hidayat, world number five Hendrawan and the world's second ranked doubles pairing of Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan. Taufik is recovering from a bout of influenza and is expected to be fit for the championships.

Christian said on paper, the Indonesia team had the biggest chance to retain the title it earned two years ago in Jakarta by defeating Malaysia.

"We are the most dominant team in the championships because we have shuttlers with equal skills. But in a team event, our shuttlers must remain consistent in their play and they must not let the chance to win slip by them," he said.

Christian named Malaysia and South Korea as other tough rivals.

"Malaysia is fielding young shuttlers but they are also good. Yong Hock Kin and Ismail Samad have proven themselves in tournaments but I think there should be more senior shuttlers like Wong Choon Han, the 1999 Southeast Asian Games silver medalist, or a veteran like Ong Ewe Hock," he said.

"Malaysia also isn't fielding its strong doubles of Lee Wan Wah and Choong Tan Fook or veterans Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock, the 1996 Olympics silver medalists."

Christian said South Korea's only strength was its doubles team.

"South Korea will field the world number one of Kim Dong-moon and Ha Tae-kwon. They are the arch rivals of Candra and Tony. But we must be able to earn points from our singles. Koreans Ahn Jae Chang and Park Tae Sang have a slim chance to win against either of the three strong countries."

Eight countries will compete in the championships.

In Group A, top seeded China faces Malaysia, Chinese Taipei and India; in Group B, Indonesia will meet South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

Christian said the order of play would exert a significant role in Indonesia's chances.

"We can take advantage if the organizers arrange the order of play in singles, singles and doubles matches. We would have a great chance to lead 2-0 from our two strong singles." He added that the second singles must be mentally strong to withstand the pressure.

"But if the order of play is singles, doubles and singles, our doubles must work hard to lead. If we are forced to fight against Korea, with its strong doubles team, the score may be equal. However, it's fairer to stage a competition with this type of order of play," he said.

The Asia Cup, to be held from Nov. 10 to Nov. 14, provides International Badminton Federation points for Olympics qualification. (yan)