RI to host Olympic winners

JAKARTA (JP): All the Atlanta Olympic Games gold medalists have been invited to play in the World Cup badminton championship here from Dec. 11 to Dec. 15.

The International Management Group, promoter of the US$190,000 tournament, said yesterday that the Olympic champions headed the list of 48 invitees.

Only the world's top 16 men's singles and 12 women's singles players will qualify for the World Cup, as will eight men's doubles, six women's doubles and six mixed doubles teams.

Barring unforeseen injuries, the Olympic champions; men's singles Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen of Denmark, women's singles Bang Soo-hyun of South Korea, men's doubles team Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky of Indonesia, their women's counterparts Ge Fei and Gu Jun of China and mixed doubles Kim Dong-moon and Gil Young-ah of South Korea are expected to turn up for the annual event.

Other Olympic medalists, including Malaysian men's singles bronze medalist Rashid Sidek and men's doubles silver medalists Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hok, have also been invited.

Women's singles Mia Audina and Susi Susanti, world men's singles number one Joko Suprianto and men's duo Denny Kantono and Antonius Irianto complete the list of Indonesian representatives.

Most of the elite badminton players have yet to say whether they will accept the invitations or not. The Cup will start just three days after the Grand Prix Finals in Denpasar, Bali, end.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's top men's doubles coach Christian Hadinata sprang a little surprise when he proposed a "long lay- off," early next year, citing the lack of challenges after years of service at the national badminton training camp.

"I am psychologically tired. I find my job of grooming the nation's best doubles players no longer interesting," said the two-time All-England men's doubles winner (with Johan Wahyudi).

Christian capped his coaching career when Ricky and Rexy earned Indonesia's lone gold medal in Atlanta last August. His proteges also include the 1994 All-England-winning pair of Bambang Supriyanto and Gunawan. (amd)