Youth served in school tournament

Youth served in school tournament

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post/Yogyakarta

Aspiring young badminton stars, listen up: The 2005 Milo-Yonex Students Badminton Tournament will descend on five towns and cities starting in February in a search for stars of the future.

The competition, first held in 2002 under the auspices of the education ministry, is seeking prospective elementary and junior high school players.

"The competition is part of the scouting program by the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI). We look for young shuttlers who have potential to be developed further to become strong contenders in the future," Ferial Sofyan, the vice chairman of PBSI, said during a media conference here on Friday.

Brata T. Hardjosubroto, a representative of PT Nestle Indonesia, said the tournament was also expected to help popularize the sport among more people, particularly schoolchildren.

The competition will kick off in Jakarta (Feb. 2-5); followed by Bogor, West Java (Feb. 14-18); following by Padang, West Sumatra (Feb. 28-March 6); Malang, East Java (March 21-27); and Manado, North Sulawesi, April 4-10.

Winners in the junior high division from all five series will advance to the grand final in Jakarta, to be held April 18-23.

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