Ricky and Rexy have nothing to lose at Grand Prix finals

JAKARTA (JP): Olympic men's doubles champions Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky say they will not crack under heavy pressure and will win the Grand Prix badminton finals next week.

"We just want to enjoy the game out there. Nobody, including the Badminton Association of Indonesia, insists that we must take the title," Rexy said.

"Ricky and I are the oldest team to qualify, so it will be fine if we can reach the semifinals," the 31-year-old father of two children added.

The finals will run from Feb. 22 to Feb. 28 in the Brunei capital of Bandar Seri Begawan. Only the world top 16 in both men's and women's singles and world top eight in each of the men's, women's and mixed doubles are eligible for the event.

Ricky and Rexy, who have won all major titles during their reign dating back in 1994, will top the seedings in the season- ending tournament of 1998 which was delayed from its scheduled December date.

It will be the first tournament for Rexy and Ricky as a team since they triumphed at the Asian Games last December.

Along with them, Indonesia's men's doubles line-up will parade Flandy Limpele/Eng Hian, Tony Gunawan/Halim Haryanto and Denny Kantono/Antonius Ariantho.

Rexy/Ricky have been drawn to meet Flandy/Eng Hian, the Swedish pair of Peter Axelsson and Par Gunnar Jonsson and China's Zhang Wei and Zhang Jun in the Group A.

Third seeded Tony and Halim will be in Group B along with Denny/Antonius, England's second seeds Chris Hunt and Simon Archer and Denmark's Jens Eriksen and Jesper Larsen.

Rexy hoped that the four Indonesian pairs would all reach the semifinals to secure the men's doubles crown.

"It's very possible because we will only face strong opposition from the Swedes and Danes. But being overconfident will be dangerous," Rexy said.

Separately, Eng Hian said he would fight it out to win the tournament. "Victory is my personal target because I think the event will serve as a warm-up for the All-England," he said.

New men's doubles coach Herry IP said victory is a must for his charges who will make up half the field.

"I'm not expecting all-Indonesian semifinals, but they must win the title," said Herry, a replacement for Atik Djauhari who has moved to Sweden.

Herry said his squad would next target more titles at the All England, Japan Open and the World Championships. (yan)