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)