The Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) will send 10
shuttlers to the China Open next month, eyeing men's singles
finals.?
?
The tournament will be held November 9-14 in Guangzhou, southern
China.
Indonesian hopefuls are 2004 Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat and
Sony Dwi Kuncoro in the men's singles, Candra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto
and Markis Kidho/Hendra Setiawan in the men's doubles, Nova
Widhianto/Lilyana Natsir and Anggun Nugroho/Yunita Tetty in the
mixed doubles.
"We hope Taufik can reach the men's singles finals. Reaching the
semi-finals in the men's doubles would be a good run for our
players," PBSI head of development affairs Icuk Sugiarto was quoted
Wednesday by The Jakarta Post as saying.
Icuk said he would not set a target for the mixed doubles as
they were newly paired.
He acknowledged the tough field of the China Open with the hosts
expecting to run hot on their own turf.
"Therefore, we have to accept that a maximum target of becoming
finalists is realistic. We don't want to be preoccupied with
chasing the championship. That would only burden the shuttlers," he
said.
Candra Wijaya, whose appearance in Guangzhou will see him
reunite with former partner Sigit Budiarto for the first time since
2002, are expected to reach the semi-finals.
The players will continue their trip to the Singapore Open
November 15-21, where they will be joined by other players such
asSimon Santoso, Wimpie Mahardi, men's doubles Luluk
Hadiyanto/AlvenYulianto and Flandi Limpele/Eng Hiam, women's
doubles Jo Novita/Lita Nurlita, Gresyia Polii/Heni Budiman, and
Natalia/Rane Mundiastuti.
(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2004)