RI to face tough challenge from Malaysia in Asia

RI to face tough challenge from Malaysia in Asia

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will face tough competition from
Malaysia and South Korea at the A King Asia Cup badminton
championship this week.

The three countries are the favorites to win the championship
at the Senayan Tennis Indoor Stadium from Feb. 19 to Feb. 23.

Their chances have improved since China withdrew from the
championship because of internal problems between the Badminton
Association of China and its players.

Promoter IMG said 1996 Malaysian Open finalist Indra Wijaya of
Indonesia, ranked number four in the world, was the top seed in
the men's singles of the US$150,000 championship.

He will be challenged by world number six Park Sung-woo of
South Korea, world number eight Ong Ewe Hock of Malaysia and Fung
Permadi of China Taipei, who is ranked number nine.

Budi Santoso, the 1996 Indonesia Open finalist, and Jeffer
Rosobin, the 1996 World Cup championship finalist, will also play
in the men's singles.

The inaugural championships features only two singles and one
doubles event for male shuttlers.

Sigit Budiarto/Chandra Wijaya of Indonesia, who are world
number one, are the top seed in the men's doubles. They will meet
the new partnership of Pramote Teerawiwatana/Kittiporn Kittikul
of Thailand Feb. 20.

Malaysia is not sending its top shuttler, Rashid Sidek,
because of his poor performances in the Japan and Korean Open
championships last month.

Malaysia's top mens' double pair Cheah Soon Kit/Yap Kim Hock,
the 1996 Olympic silver medalists, will also miss the
championship because Yap is injured. Lee Wan Wah and Lee Chee
Leong will replace them.

The organizers' deputy for competition Minarni Sudaryanto said
Friday Indonesia should have entered more players in the
championships.

"There should be substitute shuttlers for the doubles so they
don't suffer from fatigue," she told Antara.

"The association (The Badminton Association of Indonesia) must
reconsider the player list. Some countries have even sent six
shuttlers to the championships," she said.

Indonesia could send as many shuttlers as possible because the
quota will be decided at the technical meeting a day before the
event.

Chinese Taipei will send five shuttlers, Japan five, Thailand
five, Malaysia six, South Korea four and Hong Kong seven.

India, which will replace China, has yet to send its total
number of players.

The organizers' chairman Karsono said a rainmaster was ready
to stop if raining during the championships to avoid the venue's
roof leaking.

The stadium management initially rejected the organizers'
request to use the stadium for badminton because it feared
badminton movements, which are different from tennis, would break
the tennis rebound ace surface.

Minarni said the management agreed to let them use the stadium
after the organizers used carpet to cover the surface. (yan)