RI shuttlers top Malaysia Open seeds

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian shuttlers, smarting after their modest success at the recent Beijing Asia Cup badminton championships, dominate the seedings for the Malaysia Open in Johor Baru which kicks off on Wednesday.

As expected, the organizing committee on Thursday put world's top-ranked men's singles Joko Suprianto, women's singles Susi Susanti and men's pair of Rudy Gunawan and Bambang Suprianto atop their respective lists.

Indonesian men's shuttlers who successfully ended a 10-year Thomas Cup drought last May were rewarded in the seedings at the US$180,000 tournament with titleholder Ardy Wiranata and Olympic bronze medalist Hermawan Susanto seeded second and third, respectively.

Danish number one Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen was placed fourth ahead of home crowd favorite and three-time champion Rashid Sidek, followed by Dane Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen, Sweden's Jens Olsson and Chinese rising star Dong Jiong.

Dong is considered a player to watch at the July 6-10 event, thanks mainly to his double upset victories over Joko and All- England reigning champion Hariyanto Arbi on his way to triumphing in the Asia Cup.

"I saw him play in Jakarta during the Thomas Cup and recently in the Asia Cup in Beijing and his game has matured," former Malaysian Thomas Cup hero Punch Gunalan was quoted by the Kuala Lumpur-based New Straits Times daily as saying on Thursday.

Hariyanto joined the list of notable absentees along with women's doubles compatriots Lili Tampi and Finarsih and South Korean number one Bang Soo-hyun at the six-star meet.

In the men's doubles, defending champions Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky, fresh from their win at the Beijing's invitational tournament, were placed behind their world number one compatriots.

The organizers put Malaysia's best bets Cheah Soon Kit and Soo Beng Kiang in the third spot, ahead of Denmark's ace doubles pair of Thomas Lund and Jon Holst Christensen.

Except for women's singles title holder Susi, Indonesian female shuttlers were unrated at the world badminton grand prix tournament, having Yuliani Sentosa and second string pair of Eliza and Zelin Resiana ranked fifth in their respective divisions.

Indonesia will parade a 50-strong team heavy on junior shuttlers at badminton's most lucrative event. There had been fears earlier that the Indonesians would fail to make the trip to Johor Baru following their crowd-shortened Thomas Cup final against Malaysia. (amd)