Shuttlers getting cold feet about weather forecast for Korea Open
Shuttlers getting cold feet about weather forecast for Korea Open
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
With the six-star Noonnoppi Korea Open set to begin next week,
local shuttlers are worried that the wintry weather in Incheon
City may adversely affect their performances.
Top men's doubles shuttler Luluk Hadiyanto said the
notoriously low temperatures would provide another challenge for
him and partner Alven Yulianto to defend their title at the
tournament.
"Last year, we played in the Korea Open and won the title, but
it was held in March when the weather isn't cold," he said after
Tuesday's morning training session at Cipayung Badminton Training
Center, East Jakarta.
"But this year, the tournament is in January and I've heard
that the weather is very cold, so we must be cautious about it,
not only about the other competitors."
According to www.accuweather.com., temperatures in the city
from Jan. 25 to Jan. 30, when the tournament will be held, will
range from minus seven to minus 12 degrees Celsius.
In contrast, Jakarta temperatures hover from 24 to 30 degrees
Celsius.
Luluk said he would seek the advice of seasoned players like
Flandy Limpele/Eng Hian, who also trained in England for several
years, on dealing with the cold weather.
Indonesia plans to send 11 shuttlers to the Korea Open; apart
from Luluk/Alven, the other hopefuls are men's singles player
Simon Santoso, men's double pairs Chandra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto
and Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan, and Nova Widhianto/Lilyana
Natsir and Anggun Nugroho/Yunita Tetty in the mixed doubles.
The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has set a target
for one of the men's doubles pairs to win the title and at least
one semifinal slot in the mixed doubles.
Lilyana was similarly concerned about the cold in the Korean
city, saying it would probably benefit European players.
"Yes, the cold weather will make it difficult for us to move,
but we must overcome it and concentrate on our matches," she
said.
Luluk said the toughest challengers in the tournament were
teammates Chandra/Sigit and Markis/Hendra, the Chinese pair Fu
Haifeng/Cai Yun and Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen of Denmark.
"We just hope our current winning form will continue in the
Korea Open."
Luluk/Alven won their last two tournament outings at the 2004
Singapore Open and Indonesia Open in December.
Lilyana said her target was to reach the semifinals in Korea.
Nova/Lilyana, a relatively new pairing, reached the semifinals
of the China Open, won the Singapore Open and reached the
quarterfinals of the Indonesia Open last year.