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.