RI sends juniors ton China Open

JAKARTA (JP): World number one Ardy Wiranata and number seven Alan Budikusuma lead a pack of Indonesian second stringers to the China Open badminton championships in Liaoning, starting today.

National coach Indra Gunawan said the sending of the second stringers was aimed at increasing their exposure to international competitions for the sake of experience and at comparing their ability to that of China.

"Hence, it is not victories we're looking for," Indra said, referring to the championships merely as a testing ground for the young players. Two seniors, former All-England champion Ardy and Olympic gold medalist Alan, were there to motivate the juniors, Indra said.

The two are the country's only world-class players included in the championships after the recently concluded Hong Kong Open. Ardy lost in the final, and Alan in the semifinals to the same opponent, fellow Indonesian Hariyanto Arbi.

Other major Indonesian absentees from the China Open will include women's world number one Susi Susanti, reigning All- England champion Hariyanto and the world's strongest men doubles Rexy Mainaky and Ricky Subagja. They went home directly after spearheading a winning Indonesian team in the Hong Kong Open.

Indra said that next year Indonesia will have to decide which of the young shuttlers should be chosen and prepared for the 1996 Olympic in Atlanta, the United States, and which of them should be seasoned and matured by exposing them to various international championships.

This is going to be a difficult decision, Indra said. It will require a lot of money and a good scheduling to prevent overlapping problems in sending the young shuttlers to various championships next year.

Indra added that the China battle also serves as a tool to preview future competition among the world's budding shuttlers.

The male second stringers Indonesia is fielding during the championships are Lioe Tiong Ping, Hendrawan, Marleve Mainaky, Ade Sutrina/Chandra Wijaya. The female shuttlers are Mia Audina, Ika Henny, Ita Ardwiantini, Carmelitta and Meluawati.

Mia, who made her first appearance after her triumphant Uber Cup campaign, reached the semifinals in Hong Kong only to lose to second seed Lim Xiaoqing of Sweden. (arf)