RI's badminton future in doubt

RI's badminton future in doubt

BANDUNG, West Java (JP): The difference in rankings of
Indonesia's women's singles players will be a factor in their
Uber Cup title defense campaign, an Indonesian Badminton
Association official said yesterday.

The Indonesian Thomas Cup and Uber Cup team manager Lutfi
Hamid said here yesterday that with Susi Susanti playing the
dominant role on Indonesia's Uber Cup team, the defending
champion will arrive at the finals in May as an underdog against
fast improving China and South Korea.

Susi, the nation's top player, is placed second in the latest
world rankings, far above Indonesia's second best Mia Audina, who
is 10th.

"I'm optimistic, however, that Indonesia is one of the strong
contenders for the trophy," Lutfi said. "With just one month
left, my women shuttlers are at 80 percent of their best form."

The Uber Cup draw places Indonesia in a group with China,
Japan and Russia. European contenders Denmark and England join
South Korea and Hong Kong in the other group.

In the Thomas Cup finals, top seed Indonesia, which has won
the trophy for a record nine times, is grouped with China, Sweden
and England. The other group consists of Denmark, South Korea,
Malaysia and host Hong Kong.

Women's coach Imelda Wiguna had said earlier that her squad
sees a slim chance to retain the title, she expected that they
reach the semifinals.

Indonesia will enter the May 17-26 championships in Hong Kong
as holder of both Thomas Cup and Uber Cup trophies. The
competitions are the world team championships for both sexes, the
Thomas Cup for men and the Uber Cup for women. They feature three
singles and two doubles matches in each round.

Lutfi also said that the association will announce its teams
for the Thomas and Uber Cup badminton championships next week,
following final selection matches this weekend here.

He said that badminton officials will hold a three-day meeting
here starting on Sunday to pick 10 of the 14 shuttlers initially
nominated for each team. The association will send the entry form
to the International Badminton Federation on May 1.

"The final selection matches will be crucial for all players
being groomed for the championships. We expect to see them battle
tenaciously," said Lutfi, who led the triumphant Indonesian team
in Jakarta two years ago.

The format of the Bandung matches will follow exactly that of
the Thomas and Uber Cups.

World number two Susi Susanti leads the Harimau Uber Cup team
and will take on Cindana of the Rajawali team to open the
simulation matches.

A battle of the giants in the men's division will feature
world number one Joko Suprianto of the Harimau team against world
number three Hariyanto Arbi of the Rajawali team.

The Indonesian Thomas and Uber Cup teams will play another
simulation match here prior to their departure to Hong Kong.

Indonesia, as holder of both trophies, and Hong Kong, as the
host, were exempted from the qualifying matches played early in
March. (14/amd)