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)