RI sends 50 shuttlers to next month's Malaysia Open

RI sends 50 shuttlers to next month's Malaysia Open

JAKARTA (JP): World champions Joko Suprianto and Susi Susanti
will lead a makeshift Indonesian team at the July 6-10 Malaysia
Open badminton championships in Johor.

The US$180,000 tournament, the fourth stop of the Asian world
badminton grand prix series, will serve as another proving ground
for Indonesia's triumphant Thomas Cup and Uber Cup sides after an
exhausting month of victory celebrations.

The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) announced
yesterday the big guns for the men's singles competition will
include title holder Ardy Wiranata, Hermawan Susanto, Olympic
champion Alan Budikusuma and Fung Permadi.

All-England reigning champion Hariyanto Arbi and the women's
world number two doubles pair of Lili Tampi and Finarsih will be
conspicuous by their absences at the upcoming tourney. Haryanto
was upset by China's Dong Jiong in the recent Asian Cup final in
Beijing.

"We want him to take a break and prepare for the Indonesia
Open in August," coach Indra Gunawan said, adding that most of
his players had lost their form during the victory tours. The
party ended in Ujungpandang last Sunday.

"The losing streaks of key shuttlers led to our decision to
embark with a squad heavy on second best players," Indra said.

Men's world number two doubles team Ricky Subagja and Rexy
Mainaky provided Indonesia with its lone title at the Asian Cup
invitational event.

PBSI plans to send the young shuttlers to championships in
Singapore and Brunei following the six-star Johor event.

Men's singles Hendrawan and Lioe Tiong Ping and their women's
teammates Meuliawati, Kristin Yunita and Ika Henny are among
several second stringers Indonesia is counting on.

The world's best doubles team of Rudy Gunawan and Bambang
Supriyanto, defending champions Ricky and Rexy and rising stars
Danny Kantono and Antonius have all confirmed their participation
in the most lucrative badminton event.

Mia Audina and Yuliani Sentosa will join Susi in Indonesia's
charge to retain the women's singles title amid the challenge of
China's Ye Zhaoying and Hang Jingna. Susi won the Malaysia Open
crown last year as Indonesia swept three out of five top honors.

Relegating Lili and Finarsih to the bench, Indonesia will bank
on the junior pair of Eliza and Zelin Resiana who joined the
winning Uber Cup team last May.

The European challenge in the men's singles competition will
be led by Danes Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen and Poul-Erik Hoyer-
Larsen, Sweden's Jens Olsson and England's Darren Hall and Anders
Nielsen.

The host nation expects three-time champion Rashid Sidek to
regain his crown. Superstar Rashid, who missed last year's meet
due to an eye injury, almost singlehandedly led Malaysia to May's
Thomas Cup final. (amd)