Sanyo Indonesia Open as scheduled

Sanyo Indonesia Open as scheduled

JAKARTA (JP): Despite the possibility of violent rallies prior
to and during the special session of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR), the US$170,000 Sanyo Indonesia Open will take
place as scheduled next month.

"All related parties have concluded that it would be better to
stage the five-star event as planned earlier after a thorough
examination on all the options available," the secretary-general
of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI), Leo Chandra
Wiranata, said on Tuesday.

"We will have another evaluation meeting between July 10 and
July 14, just prior to the event, to ensure that everything goes
well.

"As for right now, we are still preparing for the events until
further evaluation. Sanyo, as the title sponsor, said it still
preferred to hold the event as planned."

The tournament is scheduled to take place from July 25 to July
29 at the Bung Karno Indoor Stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

PBSI officials, PBSI Jakarta chapter officials,
representatives of organizers IMG and title sponsor Sanyo
attended Tuesday's meeting to discuss the tournament's schedule.

"We all agreed not to postpone or even cancel the tournament.
If we can't organize it here maybe we'll have to move it outside
Jakarta," Leo said.

"If we are forced to postpone the event, we will have to
consult the International Badminton Federation (IBF) because
basically the calendar cannot be changed for any reason."

"But I hope the IBF will understand that we have a very
complicated situation here. The organizers would have to notify
all the participants."

Leo said the organizers would coordinate with security
authorities to ensure the safety of all participants.

"We are focusing on the players' safety and the security of
the route between the stadium and Hilton Hotel.

"I don't know how many personnel are needed because that is up
to the authorities, but I'm sure it won't be that expensive for
the organizers."

In a separate development, Leo also said that organizers of
the Chinese Super Grand Prix China Open offered world champion
Hendrawan to perform at two exhibition events after the
tournament in September.

"The China Open will take place from Sept. 18 to Sept. 23 and
the exhibitions are slated for Sept. 25 in Guangzhou and Sept. 27
or Sept. 28 in Beijing," he said.

"The organizers are offering Hendrawan US$7,000 as an
appearance fee if he is willing to perform at the exhibition
events.

"The organizers will pay the lodging expenses of all
Indonesian shuttlers taking part in the event within 16 world
ranks," he added. (nvn)