Shuttlers to help Banten flood victims

JAKARTA (JP): World-class national shuttlers hope to raise as much as they can in a charity match and memorabilia auction titled Atlet Peduli (Athletes Care) at the Siliwangi stadium in Bandung on Saturday.

The event organizers' chairman Sigit Budiarto and the 1997 men's doubles world champion Candra Wijaya told a media conference at Hard Rock Cafe on Wednesday that they did not have a specified targeted amount to be raised during the event, but expressed hoped that many visitors would buy the collectables.

"We just want to raise as much as possible to be donated to natural disaster victims. For the first step, we'll hand the funds over to flood victims in the Banten area together with RCTI," he said.

Among the memorabilia to be on sale are the racket Candra used when he won the 2000 Sydney Olympics gold, Ricky Subagdja's racket when taking home the 1996 Atlanta Olympics gold and Taufik Hidayat's racket when reaching the 2000 All England final.

Candra said: "I hope people will honor my achievement in the Olympics and want to spend their money to donate."

The charity match will feature a men's singles match between Taufik, twice All England finalist in 1999 and 2000, and Olympics silver medalist Hendrawan.

Candra and Sigit will play the men's doubles and will ask spectators to play against them. While Olympics silver medalists Tri Kusheryanto and Minarti Timur will also play against visitors.

"The doubles match is merely to give a chance to badminton fans to join us on court. It won't be a real match but mostly entertainment," Candra said.

"We are still looking for sponsors to help us cover the expenses."

The event is jointly sponsored by RCTI, Djarum cigarettes, Barito Post, BOLA sports tabloid, South Kalimantan-based Bina Benua Group and Yonex.

Both Candra and Sigit said the idea came from the shuttlers to help the victims as an expression of their gratitude to badminton fans throughout the country who had supported them in international events.

"We realize that Indonesian people have always prayed for us when we compete abroad, wishing us success. It is time for us to pay them back for their support," Sigit said.

He hoped that shuttlers would be able to regularly stage similar events in the future.

"Hopefully, when we're off season, we'll have time to raise funds for the needy in the country."

About 8,000 spectators are expected to flock the stadium. Tickets are Rp 20,000 (US$2.10). (yan)