Taufik won't play in World Grand Prix Finals
Taufik won't play in World Grand Prix Finals
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's teen idol Taufik Hidayat, whose
world ranking has dropped from two to five, will definitely lose
more points as the International Badminton Federation (IBF)
officially announced that he would not participate in the six-
star 2000 World Grand Prix Finals in Bandar Seri Begawan in
March.
The 19-year-old Taufik, who was banned by the Badminton
Association of Indonesia (PBSI) for two international matches due
to his verbal attacks on chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, missed the
Korea Open earlier this month.
Chinese Luo Yigang will replace Taufik at the event.
WorldBadminton.net reported that the 1996 Olympics gold
medalist Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen of Denmark has confirmed his
participation in the March 28 to April 1 event.
His confirmation was quite surprising considering he announced
his retirement from badminton at the Danish Open in October last
year.
The 35-year-old Hoyer-Larsen retired due to his age and his
wife's illness. He is now working at the state-owned TeleDanmark
company.
Olympics gold medalist Ji Xinpeng of China, Olympics silver
medalist Hendrawan of Indonesia, All England winner Xia Xuanze of
China, world number one Peter Gade Christensen of Denmark are
among 16 men's singles shuttlers confirmed to compete at the
event. Another Indonesian playing in the event is world number
eight Marlev Mainaky.
None of Indonesian women's singles have qualified to compete
in the Grand Prix Finals.
World number one Camilla Martin of Denmark will face tough
competition with arch-rival Olympics gold medalist Gong Zhichao
of China.
Former world number one Ye Zhaoying of China turned down the
invitation without citing any reason.
Three Indonesian doubles -- world number two Flandy Limpele
and Eng Hian, Olympics gold medalists Candra Wijaya and Tony
Gunawan, world number five Sigit Budiarto and Halim Heryanto --
have qualified in the events.
They will face tough competition from South Koreans world
number one Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong-sung and Ha Tae-kwon and Kim
Dong-moon; not to mention Jens Eriksen and Jesper Larsen of
Denmark, Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah of Malaysia and Simon
Archer and Nathan Robertson of England.
Etty Tantri and Cynthia Tuwankotta are the only Indonesian
women's pair to compete at the event. They will have to struggle
against, among others, world number one Huang Nanyan and Yang
Wei, South Koreans Ra Kyung-min and Chung Jae-hee and Danish duo
Helene Kirkegaard and Rikke Olsen.
IBF also announced that Indonesia's mixed doubles Bambang
Suprianto and Zelin Resiana would skip the tournament as Zelin
has resigned from the national squad as she wishes to have a
baby. Zelin is married to former world champion Joko Supriyanto.
England's Ian Sullivan and Gail Emms confirmed their
attendance and will replace them. (yan)