Susi, Joko miss national championships

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's best shuttlers Susi Susanti and Joko Suprianto will miss the 1997 Ardath Badminton National Championships in Bandung from Oct. 28 to Nov. 2.

Susi sustained a knee injury in the just concluded SEA Games team event finals while Joko will compete in the Hongkong Open which is on at the same time.

Joko, together with Marlev Mainaky, Budi Santoso in the men's singles, Meluawati and Cindana in the women's singles, Victo Wibowo/Tony Gunawan and Eng Hian/Hermono in the men's doubles will compete in Hong Kong.

Other national top shuttlers will compete in the championships.

They are Hariyanto Arbi, Indra Wijaya, Ardy Wiranata, Alan Budikusuma, Hermawan Susanto, Ricky Subagja, Rexy Mainaky, Candra Wijaya, Sigit Budiarto, Sandiarto, Bambang Supriyanto and Tri Kusharjanto on the men's side and Mia Audina, Elyza, Zelin Resiana, Indarti Issoliana, Deyana Lomban, Finarsih and Etty Tantri on the women's side.

The organizers executive director, D. Parma, told Kompas daily Friday that 84 national shuttlers and 552 players from 20 provinces had registered to compete in the annual event.

Top shuttlers are predicted to meet among themselves and are favored to win the titles. Hariyanto will most likely meet Indra in the men's singles finals. But they will have to meet rising junior stars Hendrawan, George Rimarcdi and Jeffer Rosobin.

In the men's doubles, Olympic gold medalists Ricky/Rexy will have a chance to take revenge on juniors Candra/Sigit, the 1997 World Champion winners, who beat them in the SEA Games men's doubles individual event finals. (yan)