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)