RI names China as threat in Asia Cup

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)