World champ Xia withdraws from Open
World champ Xia withdraws from Open
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Batam, Riau
An injury has forced world champion Xia Xuanze to quit the
Indonesian Open while the hosts suffered a blow in the qualifying
round which ended here on Tuesday.
Xia was seen among the Chinese team training inside the
Tumenggung Abdul Jamal Indoor Hall, but the organizing committee
confirmed that the Chinese second seed would not compete.
"(Chinese) team manager notified us at 4 p.m. today that Xia
could not play because he is still nursing his injury," Cahya,
the tournament director, said during a media conference.
Xia, who secured his world championship in Birmingham last
month, suffered a calf injury in his three-set victory over
Malaysian veteran Ong Ewe Hock in the third round of the
Singapore Open last week. The injury cost him a quarterfinal
match, handing a walk-over win to Indonesian second stringer
Wimpie Mahardi.
Xie was drawn to meet Singapore's Indra Wijaya in the first
round of the Indonesia Open, which begins on Wednesday.
Amidst fears of further withdrawals following Denmark's
announced pullout of the event in the wake of the JW Marriott
Hotel bombing, the US$170,000 Indonesia Open has still registered
a record 520 players, with the hosts making up the bulk of the
participants.
"What a relief! We had feared that more participants would
stay away. In fact, they do not seem deterred by the jolt brought
about by the recent bombing," Chairul Tanjung, the chairman of
the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI), said.
He said that the good upturn should be a good omen ahead of
Indonesia's plan to host the Asian Championships in October and
the Thomas and Uber Cups next year.
The number of participating countries has not changed from the
previously listed 35, with Bo Rafn the only Dane in the event.
Though, he has had to pack his bags early, after crashing out in
the qualifying round.
After two rounds of qualifying matches, however, Indonesia
suffered a blow with the players failing to take advantage of the
home court.
Of dozens of players Vedra Wibowo is the only Indonesian to
qualify for the main draw. While in the women's singles,
Indonesia could only see Cahyaning Priyanti and Marissa IP
through to the main round.
Among the qualifiers is 2001 All England champion Pullela
Gophichand of India, who denied Tommy Sugiarto's chance of
advancing to the main round.
Eny Erlangga/Lilyana Natsir and Frida Winaryanti/Firbaya
Adelita are the only Indonesian women's doubles while Mega
Berlian/Greysia Polii are the only mixed doubles pair that won
their main round slots.
The men's doubles are the exception, with seven places being
secured by local players. It leaves Soon Hock Ong/Bin Shen Tan
the only outside qualifiers.
The main round matches will start at 9 a.m. Top seed Chen
Hong, fresh from winning the Singapore Open, will be challenged
by Dicky Palyama of the Netherlands.
Defending champion Taufik Hidayat, who is seeded fifth, will
take on Malaysian qualifier Beng Hong Kuan while Sony Dwi
Kuncoro, Indonesia's strong hopeful, will begin his campaign
against little-known Jim Ronny Andersen of Norway.