Shuttlers begin play in Jakarta Open

Shuttlers begin play in Jakarta Open

The 18th Yonex Sunrise Jakarta Open 2004 badminton
championship, featuring about 1,000 players from 74 clubs in
Indonesia and four foreign countries, began here on Tuesday.

The six-day championship at the Asia-Africa Badminton Hall in
South Jakarta features Under-14, U-16 and U-19 divisions, as well
as an open class, with a total of Rp 30 million (US$3,200) in
prizes on offer.

The visiting teams come from Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore
and Switzerland.

Only a few national players from Indonesia's training center
are playing in the tournament, a fact that has been criticized by
the organizing committee.

The national training center has sent only two men's doubles
teams to the tournament, Stevanus Ricky/Suherlan and Ardian
Kusmanto/Raymond Dimas Lesmana, as well as the mixed doubles pair
of Mega Berlian/Olivia.

"It is very disappointing that the training center has not
sent more players to this championship. It is held in Jakarta, so
they don't have to spend much money," Retno Kustijah, vice
chairman of the tournament's organizing committee, said. -- JP