Susi ready to defend GP title for the seventh time

JAKARTA (JP): Susi Susanti of Indonesia, ranked number one in the world, said she was ready to defend the Grand Prix badminton women's singles title for the seventh time.

The Grand Prix badminton finals will be held at Senayan Indoor Stadium, from Dec. 10 to Dec. 14.

"I am ready to defend the title. I know it's going to be difficult since there will be many players out to dethrone me," Susi said after training at the Cipayung center on Thursday.

Based on the draw by the International Badminton Federation on Wednesday, Susi is the top seed in Group A, which also includes Dai Yun and Zhang Ning, both from China.

The women's singles consists of 12 players. Seven come from China, two from Indonesia (Susi and Mia Audina) and the other three from South Korea (Kim Ji-hyun), Denmark (Camilia Martin) and (Sweden) Marina Andrievskaya.

For the Grand Prix badminton finals, China will have 20 players (four women's singles, seven men's singles, four pairs of men's and women's doubles and a pair of mixed doubles).

Indonesia will have 30 players (8-2-4-2-2), Denmark 14 players (4-1-2-1-2), Sweden one (women's singles), South Korea one women's singles and one men's doubles, Malaysia with one men's doubles, Japan with one women's doubles and England with one mixed doubles.

Mia Audina, expected to take Susi's place as the country's top player when Susi retires, is seeded with Martin in Group B.

Group C consists of three Chinese, Ye Zhaoying, Yao Yan and Kim Ji Hyun. Group D has another two Chinese, Gong Zhicao and Zang Zang Yaqiong, and Marina.

In the men's singles, none of Indonesia's players are seeded.

Indonesia will be represented by Alan Budikusuma and Budi Santoso (Group A), Heryanto Arbi and Marleve Mainaky (B), Ardy Wiranatakusuma and Hendrawan (C), and Hermawan Susanto and Indra Wijaya (D).

Three Danish players are seeded in Groups A and D, Peter Gade and Christensen in Group A and Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen in Group D.

Two Chinese are seeded in Groups B and C with Sun Jun in Group B and Dong Jiong in Group C. (lnt)