Susi withdraws from Japan Open

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's number one women's badminton player Susi Susanti has withdrawn from the Japan Open championships due to suffering from a reoccurring thigh injury.

"According to Liang Chusia, Susi's coach, Susi is again suffering from a leg ailment and there is no way Susi will be able to play in the Japan Open," Christian Hadinata, the training director of Badminton Association of Indonesia, said Thursday.

Christian is a former world men's doubles player and was formerly national men's doubles coach.

The US$200,000 Japan Open is scheduled to be held from Jan. 14 to Jan. 18.

Susi has suffered from the leg injury since her participation in the 19th SEA Games last October.

Christian had already told Chusia that Susi's problem could reoccur at any time. "We cannot force Susi to play in Japan in her current condition."

The Indonesian team for the Japan Open comprises Heryanto Arbi, Indra Wijaya, Joko Suprianto, Marleve Mainaky, Budi Santoso (men's singles), Mia Audina, Cindana, Lydia Djaelawidjaya (women's singles), Ricky Subagdja/Rexy Mainaky, Chandra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto, Deny Kantono/Antonius (men's doubles), Elisa/Zelin Resiana, Deyana Lomban/Indarti Isolina, and Ety Tantri/Cynthia Tuankota (women's doubles).

Christian said the association would not send the mixed doubles because of the national economic crisis and secondly because the mixed doubles are not contested in either the Thomas or Uber Cups.

"Since the Japan Open is only a trial for the coming Thomas Cup and Uber Cups, the association has decided not to send the mixed doubles. The main reason was the economic crisis striking Indonesia," Christian said, as quoted by the Antara news agency Thursday.

Christian said Joko was being sent to Japan as a test of his form.

"Although Joko failed to reach the final of the Grand Prix in Yogyakarta, we decided to send him to Japan to ascertain his form. For Joko, this is a good opportunity."

Christian added that if Joko failed to perform well he could be substituted with Hermawan Susanto, Ardy Wiranata or Alan Budikusuma in future tournaments.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported yesterday that South Korea had canceled the 1998 Korean Open Badminton Championship because of austerity measures imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"We are not able to pay US$250,000 in prize money for the tournament this year as everybody is short of dollars in the IMF era," a spokesman at the Korea Badminton Association said yesterday. "Maybe, we can resume the tournament next year."

The Association had planned to hold the seventh badminton tournament between Jan. 6 and Jan. 11 with players from 18 countries competing, including South Korea.

The South Korean won has lost more than 50 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar since last year in a free fall that is showing no signs of stabilizing. (lnt)