Uber Cup title holder depending on singles

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's team for the Uber Cup women's badminton championships announced yesterday looks experimental and heavily dependent on the singles players.

But in the Thomas Cup men's division, the national association warned the opposition of its seemingly unavoidable progress to another victory as it paraded Joko Suprianto-led heavyweights who currently rule the roost in the badminton world.

First-timers Meiluawati, Lidya Djaelawidjaja and Deyana Lomban were included in the Indonesian Uber Cup team which also includes veterans Susi Susanti, Mia Audina, Finarsih, Lili Tampi, Eliza and Zelin Resiana.

Polish Open champion Meiluawati and Lidya win their first caps as influential reserves for Olympic gold medalist Susi, Mia and Yuliani, all of whose recent form is unconvincing. Deyana, a rising doubles star, will be a stand-in partner for Indonesia's seasoned pairs of Lili/Finarsih and Eliza/Zelin.

The reigning nine-time Thomas Cup champions also picked two debutants, Antonius Arianto and Denny Kantono, to supplement the backbone made up of Joko, Hariyanto Arbi, Alan Budikusuma and Ardy Wiranata in the singles and Rexy Mainaky, Ricky Subagja, Bambang Suprianto and Gunawan in the doubles.

Chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia, Soerjadi, told a press conference upon announcing his team lineup yesterday that Indonesia wishes to "steal something" in the Uber Cup by naming five singles players and five doubles specialists.

"After thorough deliberations, we opted for a combination dominated by singles players in the Uber Cup because we know well who we are facing in Hong Kong," Soerjadi said.

Vice chairman of the National Sports Council, Ari Sudewo, was present at the conference where a one-minute silence in honor of late first lady Madame Tien Soeharto was observed.

Defending Uber Cup champions, Indonesia is grouped with favorites China, Russia and Japan in the preliminary round-robin matches. The other group contests of South Korea, Denmark, England and Hong Kong. The two top teams of each group qualify for the cross-over semifinals.

Each team will play three singles and two doubles matches in the world badminton team championships finals, slated for May 16 to May 27 at the Queen Elizabeth indoor stadium.

Chances

Indonesian training director Iwan Setiawan admitted that his Uber Cup team would compete in the finals as an underdog. "But the chance to retain the championship trophy is still there for us," he said.

Susi inspired her team to victory here two years ago when they beat China 3-2 in a thrilling final. The Indonesians had previously chalked up a surprising 4-1 semifinal win over South Korea.

Iwan, however, beamed when it came to conversation on Indonesia's Thomas Cup team. "We have enough players to match both Asian and European opponents," he said.

Indonesian male players are dominating the current world rankings. Joko and his Thomas Cup teammates are just four out of seven Indonesian singles players who are ranked among the top 16. The three Thomas Cup doubles pairs place are themselves in the top four of the rankings.

The Indonesian men's team is drawn to meet China, England and Sweden in the preliminary round. Malaysia, Denmark, South Korea and Hong Kong line up in the other group.

Soerjadi said that the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup finals will serve well as a warm-up for the Olympic Games in Atlanta.

"In Atlanta we will meet the same peoples we play in both the Thomas and Uber Cups," he said.

The Indonesian shuttlers are scheduled to leave for the championships on May 12. (amd)