Susi and Mia doubtful for Grand Prix Finals in Bali
Susi and Mia doubtful for Grand Prix Finals in Bali
JAKARTA (JP): With only two weeks left before the World Grand
Prix Badminton Finals in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia's two best
women's singles players Susi Susanti and Mia Audina are racing
against time to recover from injury.
Both Susi and Mia complained about foot strains in their
unsuccessful campaigns at the Thailand Open in Bangkok last week.
However Badminton Association of Indonesia Secretary-General
RAJ Gosal played down the injury tales yesterday. "I have yet to
receive any reports from officials and coaches who observed their
play in the Thailand Open. I have nothing to say now," he told
The Jakarta Post yesterday.
Gosal said that the association will have to decide on Susi's
and Mia's injuries soon.
Susi, who lost to South Korean Kim Ji-hyun in the semifinals,
is fourth in the latest Grand Prix rankings issued Monday, while
Mia, who crashed to another South Korean Ra Kyung-min in the
quarterfinals, is seventh.
No. 9 Meiluawati will be the only Indonesian in the women's
singles during the season-ending tournament if Susi and Mia fail
to pass their fitness tests.
Zeng Yaqiong of China and Bang Soo-hyun of South Korea, who
are 13th and 14th in the world rankings, will qualify in the
absence of Susi and Mia.
Only the top 16 players qualify for the men's singles, the top
12 for the women's singles, and eight pairs for each of the men's
doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles.
US$350,000
The US$350,000 tournament will take place from Dec. 2 to Dec.
8 in the Yuwana Mandala Stadium. It is the climax to this year's
19 Grand Prix events.
Women's doubles team of Eliza and Zelin Resiana, ranked
fourth, could extend Indonesia's list of casualties as they are
suffering from measles.
Thailand Open champions Indarti Isoliana and Deyana Lomban
were third and look certain to make their debut in the Grand Prix
Finals.
Gosal said that although defending champion Joko Suprianto
also failed in the Thailand Open final, he still has a chance to
retain his title.
"Many players use the tournament as a warm-up for the grand
prix," he said.
Alan Budikusuma, ranked 12th, and Hermawan Susanto, ranked
14th, also qualify for the finals.
Juniors Budi Susanto and Indra Wijaya, ranked 15th and 16th,
are also listed among the qualifiers.
Indonesia's men's doubles Denny Kantono/Antonius and Olympic
gold medalists Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky place the first and
third position. Malaysian pair of Cheah Soon Kit/Yap Kim Hock are
in the second.
National mixed doubles pair Trikus Heryanto/Minarti Timur,
ranked second, is challenged by top-ranked Michael Sogaard/Rikke
Olsen of Denmark and South Korean old hands Park Joo-bong/Ra
Kyung-min. (yan)