Surakarta to host badminton tourney

SEMARANG (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has named Surakarta, Central Java, to host the Indonesian Open Junior badminton tournament from July 12 to July 17.

"We have received the official appointment from PBSI and will provide the venue and officials," the chairman of PBSI's Central Java chapter, Sunyoto, said on Wednesday.

"The chapter will only arrange the venue and the referees, while accommodations, the player draw, seeding, prize money and other administrative matters will be jointly handled by PBSI and sponsors."

Sunyoto said he did not yet know which countries would send athletes to the event.

"I only know that PBSI has sent invitations to China, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea. PBSI also urged all of its chapters to send athletes to the event."

The national coach for junior shuttlers, Joko Suprianto, said all the junior badminton players at the Indonesian Badminton Center would compete in the tournament.

"We are now preparing all of the shuttlers because this is their first major event. The results will be used to evaluate their progress," he told The Jakarta Post. (har/nvn)