World best shuttlers meet in Vietnam early next month

World best shuttlers meet in Vietnam early next month

JAKARTA (JP): Vietnam, a country with no badminton history,
will be the focus of badminton enthusiasts throughout the world
as the globe's best shuttlers meet in the World Cup championships
in Ho Chi Minh City early next month.

Indonesia, currently the dominant badminton powerhouse, is
fielding its top players at the Aug. 3-7 invitational tournament
held for the first time in the Southeast Asian country.

World champions Joko Suprianto and Susi Susanti, fresh from
their Malaysia Open victories two weeks ago, looked destined to
top the seeding lists and are expected to continue their winning
streak.

All-England title holder Hariyanto Arbi and Ardy Wiranata, who
were crowned in Singapore's Konica Open on Sunday, will join Joko
in the men's singles event, with strong challenges from Rashid
Sidek, Ong Ewe Hock, both from Malaysia, Denmark's Thomas Stuer-
Lauridsen and Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen and Dong Jiong of China.

Tough rivalry will also highlight the women's singles
competitions as world grand prix runaway leader Susi meets her
old foes Ye Zhaoying of China and Bang Soo-hyun of South Korea.
Susi last beat Ye in the Malaysian Open final.

Susi renewed her Olympic engagement with Alan Budikusuma in
last year's meet in New Delhi. Alan has not earned a place this
year due to a major drop in his performance.

Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky, the triumphant team in the
Malaysian and Konica opens, are seeking a hat trick in the men's
doubles competitions, in which fellow Indonesians Bambang
Suprianto and Rudy Gunawan will also be fielded, along with
Denmark's Thomas Lund and Jon Holst Christensen, the Malaysian
ace duo of Cheah Soon-kit and Soo Beng-kiang and the Chinese Chen
Kang and Chen Hoyong.

World number two women's pair Lili Tampi and Finarsih will
make their first appearance since their Uber Cup victory last
May, with South Korean Chung So-young, who will rejoin her world
number one partner Gil Young-ah, to become joint red-hot
favorite.

The International Badminton Federation (IBF) has given the
host two wild-card entries in the men's singles and another free-
pass ticket in the women's singles.

The participants will likely have only a two-day break before
they have to turn up for the Indonesian Open in Yogyakarta, the
next grand prix stop after the Malaysian Open. (amd)