Wed, 27 Aug 2003

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.