Rudy Hartono nominated as referee at Malaysia Open
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian badminton great Rudy Hartono was nominated the official referee of the US$180,000 Malaysia Open in Johor next July.
Malaysia's New Strait Times daily reported on Sunday that the organizing committee of the Malaysia Open championships chosed Rudy, an official of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) and a member of the International Badminton Federation (IBF) honorary council, was aimed at attracting Indonesian stars to join the six-star grand prix meet.
The nomination was made at a meeting held by the committee chaired by Hashim Harun of the Johor badminton association, following a doubt that Indonesian players will be reluctant to make a trip at the fourth Asian world grand prix stop staged at Johor as they were afraid of any possible retaliation by Malaysian fans.
Malaysian Thomas Cup squad was troubled against Indonesian fanatic crowd in its title defense attempt here last month, crashing to a 0-3 defeat. IBF honorary referee Roger Johansson stopped the match, following disruptive gestures by home fans.
Rudy was unavailable for confirmation yesterday as he is accompanying Indonesian shuttlers to the Asia Cup invitational championships in Beijing which will kick off today.
A PBSI official Lutfi Hamid, in an attempt to ward off the rumor about Indonesian shuttlers' absence in Johor, said yesterday his side will likely parade a full team at the event.
"It is a big tournament. We will not waste much time to settle our fear of home fans," Lutfi, who was Indonesian Thomas and Uber Cup team manager said.
Indonesian shuttlers produced a men's singles All-Indonesian final on their way to sweeping three titles at last year's edition of the world's most lucrative badminton event in Kuching. World badminton queen Susi Susanti, top-flight men's doubles of Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky completed Ardy Wiranata's victory over compatriot Hariyanto Arbi.
World number one Joko Suprianto, All-England reigning champion Hariyanto and world number two pair of Ricky and Rexy are the only Indonesia's big names to watch at Beijing's inaugural meet which offers a total of $120,000 cash prizes up for grabs. (amd)