RI women's singles no show in Japan Open
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)