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)