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)