RI women's singles no show in Japan Open

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) will not be sending any women's single shuttlers to the five-star US$180,000 Japan Open following their poor performance at the just-concluded Yonex All England Open.

PBSI secretary-general Leo Chandra Wiranata revealed the line- up for the Japan Open on Thursday. The line-up was approved by PBSI official in charge of athlete development Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar.

PBSI decided not to send any women's singles shuttlers to Japan, though it will send its men's singles shuttlers despite their poor showing in England.

"We must consider which shuttlers beat our shuttlers and by what score. Based on this evaluation, PBSI decided not to send the women's singles.

"I, however, must inform you that PBSI may reverse its decision if there is a strong reason to include the women's singles shuttlers," Leo said.

PBSI set a relatively easy target for the women's shuttlers to survive the early rounds at the All England.

Lidya Djaelawidjaja was beaten by Wale's Kelly Morgan 11-7, 11-3 in the first round, Ellen Angelina was defeated by China's Wang Rong 11-0, 11-3 in the second round and Yuli Marfuah was stopped by Julia Mann of England 11-6, 7-11, 11-5 in the third round.

Indonesia will send men's singles shuttlers Johan Hadikusuma, Marleve Mainaky and Rony Agustinus to the Japan Open.

Indonesia will field a strong line-up of men's doubles pairs in Japan -- All England champions Tony Gunawan and Halim Heryanto, runners-up Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto, and semifinalists Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian.

Marleve and older brother Reony also will take part in the men's doubles in Japan, but they will have to pay their own way.

In the women's doubles, Deyana Lomban will be paired with Indarti Issoliana instead of Carmelita.

PBSI will also send the top mixed doubles pairs of Bambang Suprianto and Minarti Timur, and Tri Kusheryanto and Indarti. It will also send the relatively inexperienced mixed doubles pair of Nova Widhianto and Vita Marissa.

The shuttlers will be accompanied by coaches Agus Dwi Santoso, Herry Iman Pierngadi and Richard Mainaky.

The line-up for the Japan Open is proof that PBSI has decided to be more selective in sending its shuttlers to tournaments abroad because of financial constraints.

PBSI also has stated it will take into consideration the shuttlers' recent performances before deciding to send them overseas.

In a separate development, men's singles shuttlers Taufik Hidayat and Marleve progressed to the third round of the Swiss Open in Basel on Wednesday.

The top seeded Taufik defeated Malaysian Ismail Saman 4-7, 7- 5, 4-7, 7-0, 7-5, while the third seeded Marleve beat Japan's Matsumoto Toru 7-2, 7-4, 8-6, as reported on the event's official webpage, www.swissopen.com.

Taufik will now face Germany's Jens Roch, who beat Japan's Sato Shoji 5-7, 7-5, 2-7, 8-6, 8-6. Marleve's next opponent will be Malaysian Hashim Muhammad Hafiz, who beat Fung Permadi of Chinese Taipei 7-1, 7-5, 6-8, 8-7. (nvn)