Indonesia squad in Japan Open & China Open

[Sandy]

MS : Taufik Hidayat, Sony Dwi Kuncoro, and Simon Santoso
WD : Jo Novita/Greysia Polii
MX : Nova Widianto/Liliyana Natsir, Flandy Limpele/Vita Marissa and Mohamad Rizal/Greysia Polii

MD : Luluk Hadiyanto/Alvent Yulianto and Markis Kidho/Hendra Setiawan (only play in China Open)

[cao ci dan]

:eek: :eek: i thought TH is not going to Jpn Open??:confused: :confused:

[Sandy]

MS : Taufik Hidayat, Sony Dwi Kuncoro, and Simon Santoso
WD : Jo Novita/Greysia Polii
MX : Nova Widianto/Liliyana Natsir, Flandy Limpele/Vita Marissa and Mohamad Rizal/Greysia Polii

MD : Luluk Hadiyanto/Alvent Yulianto and Markis Kidho/Hendra Setiawan (only play in China Open)

This is from suarapembaruan.com

Different version from kompas.com

Japan Open
MS : Taufik Hidayat, Sony Dwi Kuncoro, and Simon Santoso
WD : Jo Novita/Greysia Polii, Lita Nurlita/Nathalia Poluakan
MX : Nova Widianto/Liliyana Natsir, Flandy Limpele/Vita Marissa and Mohammad Rizal/Greysia Polii

China Open
MS : Taufik Hidayat, Simon Santoso
MD : Luluk Hadiyanto/Alvent Yulianto and Markis Kidho/Hendra Setiawan

[blessing]

any MAS squad for both of these tournaments..?

[indra]

This is from suarapembaruan.com

Different version from kompas.com

Japan Open
MS : Taufik Hidayat, Sony Dwi Kuncoro, and Simon Santoso
WD : Jo Novita/Greysia Polii, Lita Nurlita/Nathalia Poluakan
MX : Nova Widianto/Liliyana Natsir, Flandy Limpele/Vita Marissa and Mohammad Rizal/Greysia Polii

China Open
MS : Taufik Hidayat, Simon Santoso
MD : Luluk Hadiyanto/Alvent Yulianto and Markis Kidho/Hendra Setiawan

Good....SImon in

[badMania]

MS : Taufik Hidayat, Sony Dwi Kuncoro, and Simon Santoso
WD : Jo Novita/Greysia Polii
MX : Nova Widianto/Liliyana Natsir, Flandy Limpele/Vita Marissa and Mohamad Rizal/Greysia Polii

MD : Luluk Hadiyanto/Alvent Yulianto and Markis Kidho/Hendra Setiawan (only play in China Open)

Yet again, Hendra Gunawan/Joko Riyadi are omitted from the squad. When will PBSI start sending them to participate in 5-6* tournaments?

[badMania]

WD : Jo Novita/Greysia Polii, Lita Nurlita/Nathalia Poluakan
MX : Nova Widianto/Liliyana Natsir, Flandy Limpele/Vita Marissa and Mohammad Rizal/Greysia Polii

A good thing that Simon is now going to participate in both tournaments! If he can reach at least Round 3 in both tournaments, he should go up to at least the top 20 ranking (currently ranked 25), making him currently Pelatnas's highest ranked player :cool: .

It's also interesting to see Vita Marissa being paired with Flandy Limpele. I guess her partnership with Anggun Nugroho is not long-lived. I certainly hope to see Rizal/Greysia progress to at least quarter-final.

[blessing]

any MAS squad for both of these tournaments..?heyheyhey.... i know da answer ady.... y lee chong wei not competing in china open...? izit bcoz of li yong bo again...?

[taufik-ist]

:eek: :eek: i thought TH is not going to Jpn Open??:confused: :confused:

i know you are afraid that lindan will lose to TH :) :) :)

[Baderz_Jas]

i know you are afraid that lindan will lose to TH :) :) :)

No, no... :D Lin Dan is not afraid of him anymore, so we aren't! ;) :p :D

[Chu Liuxiang]

No, no... :D Lin Dan is not afraid of him anymore, so we aren't! ;) :p :D
Lin Dan biggest threat could be his own compatriot like Chen Hong or Bao CL. However, I would like to see how LCW would like to challenge the Chinese players.:cool:

[CLELY]

No, no... :D Lin Dan is not afraid of him anymore, so we aren't! ;) :p :D

Is that so? Of course, your superhero LD always has dependable back-up to escort him wherever he join any tournaments meanwhile the others must be single-fighter to reach victorious! With BCL-CH-CY or CJ in his side, LD has high confidence to crack down any shuttlers. Madrid-event is a clear evidence of that! After WC's failure, TH-LCW-PG must be alert and spend extra-time/energy/thinking to overcome NOT ONLY LD but his compatriots too.

[tjl_vanguard]

heyheyhey.... i know da answer ady.... y lee chong wei not competing in china open...? izit bcoz of li yong bo again...?
i heard because LCW has been playing too many tournaments.. and this decision of not playing in China Open was made long time ago not after the incident in Madrid.. he deserve a rest.. he needs and his focus is definitely on Asian Games;)

[blessing]

i heard because LCW has been playing too many tournaments.. and this decision of not playing in China Open was made long time ago not after the incident in Madrid.. he deserve a rest.. he needs and his focus is definitely on Asian Games;)ooooic,....thx sa lot...:)

[baihaki_as]

Is that so? Of course, your superhero LD always has dependable back-up to escort him wherever he join any tournaments meanwhile the others must be single-fighter to reach victorious! With BCL-CH-CY or CJ in his side, LD has high confidence to crack down any shuttlers. Madrid-event is a clear evidence of that! After WC's failure, TH-LCW-PG must be alert and spend extra-time/energy/thinking to overcome NOT ONLY LD but his compatriots too.

Taufik will crash all the chinese in CO

[dugz86]

according from the player joko/hendra, they will play for denmark and dutch open.

[hcpoirot]

Yet again, Hendra Gunawan/Joko Riyadi are omitted from the squad. When will PBSI start sending them to participate in 5-6* tournaments?

Maybe when Indonesia WS can beat Chinese girls :D

Kidding.

Maybe not this year. Cause PBSI is too tight in controlling money. They probably wanted to only maximize their two best MD right now to prepare for Sudoirman Cup next year.

Another wrong tactics. But PBSI even didn't send any WS in both events. WS is also an important match in Sudirman Cup. I wonder what really inside PBSI officials?

If they kept doing this, I will not be suprised at all if at next year Sudirman Cup, we even didn't reach Semifinal.

[badMania]

according from the player joko/hendra, they will play for denmark and dutch open.

dugz86, u previously mentioned that Hendra/Joko would participate in the Korea and HK Open last month. At the end, they were not sent.

I doubt whether any Indonesian players would even participate in the Denmark and Dutch Opens. We didn't even send any players there last year...and we know that Indonesian players do not have a good record in Europe.

I hope your source is correct because we haven't seen them in action for VERY LONG!

The current talk about regeneration in the Indonesian media is bull-sh** when the young players are not even sent to participate in tournaments!

[badMania]

Maybe not this year. Cause PBSI is too tight in controlling money. They probably wanted to only maximize their two best MD right now to prepare for Sudoirman Cup next year.

Another wrong tactics. But PBSI even didn't send any WS in both events. WS is also an important match in Sudirman Cup. I wonder what really inside PBSI officials?

I saw a post in either Bola or Kompas that Christian Hadinata has issued an ultimatum to Luluk Hadiyanto/Alvent Yulianto that the China Open will be their "do or die" test. So, expect a revamp if they can not fulfill the target!

I personally prefer PBSI ditching the senior pairs like Luluk/Alvent and Flandy/Sigit and concentrate on grooming the young pairs like Hendra/Joko (who aren't exactly young also), Yoga/Yonathan and Rendra/Frans.

[jasonmarc]

i know you are afraid that lindan will lose to TH :) :) :)

Unless TH could beat LD or any of the china player(s) in either JO or CO, then TH would possibly win back some respect for him self ..........:o

[Sandy]

I saw a post in either Bola or Kompas that Christian Hadinata has issued an ultimatum to Luluk Hadiyanto/Alvent Yulianto that the China Open will be their "do or die" test. So, expect a revamp if they can not fulfill the target!

I personally prefer PBSI ditching the senior pairs like Luluk/Alvent and Flandy/Sigit and concentrate on grooming the young pairs like Hendra/Joko (who aren't exactly young also), Yoga/Yonathan and Rendra/Frans.

I have different opinion about Luluk/Alvent.
Split this pair and Alvent should be paired with a player who well played in back side with hard & accurate smash.
not much candidate for new pair for Alvent, I see only Hendra AP Gunawan (his old partner before paired with Luluk) or pulled back Rian Sukmawan to Pelatnas (Rian left Pelatnas by himself decision, and paired with some "older" partner in Djarum recently).

[badMania]

I have different opinion about Luluk/Alvent.
Split this pair and Alvent should be paired with a player who well played in back side with hard & accurate smash.
not much candidate for new pair for Alvent, I see only Hendra AP Gunawan (his old partner before paired with Luluk) or pulled back Rian Sukmawan to Pelatnas (Rian left Pelatnas by himself decision, and paired with some "older" partner in Djarum recently).

I haven't really seen much from Hendra A. Gunawan or Rian Sukmawan, so, can't comment on them.

But, I agree that Alvent still has some potential in him considering that he's the same age as Cai Yun (26). Pairing him up with a younger player might help him and his future partner. As you mentioned, Hendra A. Gunawan (24) might be an alternative. That will probably leave Joko Riyadi pairing up with another youngster, perhaps Lingga Lie?

Rian Sukmawan has done quite well for a club player and he will surely prefer to play for Djarum since Djarum gives him (and Eng Hian) the opportunity to participate in international events and even win a title. I am not sure he will even return to Pelatnas :cool:

Contrast his fortunes with Hendra Gunawan/Joko Riyadi, who are yet again not being sent to the 5-6* tourneys in Asia this year!

[ctjcad]

I have different opinion about Luluk/Alvent.
Split this pair and Alvent should be paired with a player who well played in back side with hard & accurate smash.
not much candidate for new pair for Alvent, I see only Hendra AP Gunawan (his old partner before paired with Luluk) or pulled back Rian Sukmawan to Pelatnas (Rian left Pelatnas by himself decision, and paired with some "older" partner in Djarum recently).

I haven't really seen much from Hendra A. Gunawan or Rian Sukmawan, so, can't comment on them.

But, I agree that Alvent still has some potential in him considering that he's the same age as Cai Yun (26). Pairing him up with a younger player might help him and his future partner. As you mentioned, Hendra A. Gunawan (24) might be an alternative. That will probably leave Joko Riyadi pairing up with another youngster, perhaps Lingga Lie?

Rian Sukmawan has done quite well for a club player and he will surely prefer to play for Djarum since Djarum gives him (and Eng Hian) the opportunity to participate in international events and even win a title. I am not sure he will even return to Pelatnas :cool:

Contrast his fortunes with Hendra Gunawan/Joko Riyadi, who are yet again not being sent to the 5-6* tourneys in Asia this year!
it's quite strange indeed esp. after their success in 2003-2004 and all of a sudden taking a drastic dip in their performance the last yr or so..
..and at the end of the day, the one player who will get left out will be Luluk...haiz, poor guy..:p:rolleyes:

[Han]

it's quite strange indeed esp. after their success in 2003-2004 and all of a sudden taking a drastic dip in their performance the last yr or so..
..and at the end of the day, the one player who will get left out will be Luluk...haiz, poor guy..:p:rolleyes:

Too bad they are Indonesians as there is always slot in Malaysia camp regardless of their performances :D

[Chu Liuxiang]

Too bad they are Indonesians as there is always slot in Malaysia camp regardless of their performances :D
Err.. I think maybe some slot for sparring partners but also able to represent Malaysia to international tournaments.:D

[ctjcad]

indra, mind doing the translation for us..;)
to sum it up, the article basically focused on the lack of confidence and fighting spirit that is hounding the INA players for the upcoming Japan Open, as a result of their last 5 tournaments failure..:rolleyes: :p
================================================== ========
http://jawapos.com/index.php?act=detail_c&id=250406
Sabtu, 07 Okt 2006,
Trauma Kegagalan Kejuaraan Dunia

JAKARTA - Kegagalan beruntun pada lima kejuaraan terakhir menimbulkan trauma mendalam pada Tim Bulu Tangkis Indonesia. Menjelang Jepang Terbuka 2006 yang dilaksanakan 10-15 Oktober, pesimisme menyelimuti Tim Merah Putih. PB PBSI tidak berani mematok target juara dalam kejuaran bintang lima tersebut.

"Peluang tetap ada asalkan pemain berani untuk bersaing dan mau berjuang mati-matian. Dua hal itulah yang saat ini tidak dimiliki pemain kita, yang berujung pada kegagalan demi kegagalan," kata Rudy Hartono, Kabid Binpres PB PBSI, kepada Jawa Pos kemarin.

Di Jepang Terbuka 2006, Indonesia akan turun pada tiga nomor. Tiga atlet pada tunggal pria, dua pasangan ganda wanita, serta tiga pasangan ganda campuran, akan dikirimkan ke Negeri Mathari Terbit. Mayoritas dari mereka juga bakal diandalkan dalam Asian Games 2006 yang dilaksanakan Desember di Qatar. Ini membuat Jepang Terbuka akan menjadi indikator awal prestasi bulu tangkis Indonesia pada pesta olahraga negara-negara Asia tersebut.

"Kegagalan beruntun yang diderita pemain kita sangat mungkin membuat kepercayaan diri mereka runtuh. Sebaliknya, asalkan mereka memiliki kemauan hal itu bisa jadi cambuk untuk bangkit," papar Rudy.

Namun, bukan hanya masalah mental yang menjadi hambatan Tim Bulu Tangkis Indonesia. Secara teknis, perjalanan pasukan Cipayung, lokasi Pelatnas Bulu Tangkis, akan sangat berat karena prestasi buruk membuat peringkat mereka jelek. Hasil drawing (undian) pun membuat pebulu tangkis Indonesia harus bentrok lebih awal dengan pebulu tangkis unggulan.

Taufik Hidayat misalnya. Pada babak pertama, dia mendapatkan bye. Namun, pada babak kedua, peraih emas Olimpiade Athena 2004 dan juara dunia 2005 itu harus bentrok dengan jagoan Tiongkok, Bao Chunlai, yang merupakan unggulan ke-3/4. Demikian juga dengan Simon Santoso. Pada pertandingan perdana, dia sudah berhadapan dengan unggulan 9/16 dari Malaysia, Kuan Beng Hong. Lebih berat lagi Sony Dwi Kuncoro, yang langsung bentrok dengan unggulan kedua asal Malaysia, Lee Chong Wei.

Drawing menguntungkan didapatkan wakil Indonesia di ganda campuran. Pasangan Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir bakal terhindar dari unggulan pada babak-babak awal. Itu tidak terlepas dari predikat mereka sebagai pemegang peringkat pertama IBF (Federasi Bulu Tangkis Internasional) dan unggulan utama Jepang Terbuka. Namun, itu tidak membuat mereka besar kepala. Di Kejuaraan Dunia 2006 lalu, mereka gagal meski menyandang predikat serupa.

"Tapi, ini bukan berarti langkah kami akan mudah. Saat ini, kekuatan ganda campuran sudah begitu merata," papar Nova.

Sementara itu, pasangan ganda campuran baru Indonesia, Flandy Limpele/ Vita Marissa, bakal langsung melaju ke babak utama. Berbeda dengan penampilan mereka di Korea Terbuka pada Agustus lalu yang harus dilalui melalui babak kualifikasi. Namun, pada putaran kedua, mereka harus bentrok dengan finalis Kejuaraan Dunia 2006 asal Inggris, Anthony Clark/Donna Kellogg.

Rombongan Indonesia akan bertolak ke Tokyo pada Minggu (8/9) besok. Usai berlaga di Jepang Terbuka, beberapa pemain tidak langsung pulang. Beberapa dari mereka akan langsung bertolak mengikuti Tiongkok Terbuka yang dimulai 17 Oktober. (ang)


WAKIL INDONESIA DI JEPANG TERBUKA 2006:
TUNGGAL PRIA: Taufik Hidayat, Simon Santoso, Sony Dwi Kuncoro
GANDA WANITA: Jo Novita/ Greysia Polii, Lita Nurlita/Nathalia Poluakan
GANDA CAMPURAN: Nova Widianto/ Lilyana Natsir, Flandy Limpele/Vita Marissa, M. Rizal/Greysia Polii

[maa2003]

again from JawaPos ? ......... I didn't believe this newspaper .......
yup your are rite ........ lack of confidence ....... and INA would like to use this Japan Open as barometer for next Asian Games, Qatar 2006.

I just dun understand, why INA sent 4 pairs of XD (Nova/Lilyana, Tri Kus/Minarti, Flandy/Marissa and Rizal/Polii), but none of them will go to China Open ? Japan to China is very close ........... in reverse for MD, none go to Japan Open, but 2 pairs to China Open.


indra, mind doing the translation for us..;)
to sum it up, the article basically focused on the lack of confidence and fighting spirit that is hounding the INA players for the upcoming Japan Open, as a result of their last 5 tournaments failure..:rolleyes: :p
================================================== ========
http://jawapos.com/index.php?act=detail_c&id=250406
Sabtu, 07 Okt 2006,
Trauma Kegagalan Kejuaraan Dunia

JAKARTA - Kegagalan beruntun pada lima kejuaraan terakhir menimbulkan trauma mendalam pada Tim Bulu Tangkis Indonesia. Menjelang Jepang Terbuka 2006 yang dilaksanakan 10-15 Oktober, pesimisme menyelimuti Tim Merah Putih. PB PBSI tidak berani mematok target juara dalam kejuaran bintang lima tersebut.

"Peluang tetap ada asalkan pemain berani untuk bersaing dan mau berjuang mati-matian. Dua hal itulah yang saat ini tidak dimiliki pemain kita, yang berujung pada kegagalan demi kegagalan," kata Rudy Hartono, Kabid Binpres PB PBSI, kepada Jawa Pos kemarin.

Di Jepang Terbuka 2006, Indonesia akan turun pada tiga nomor. Tiga atlet pada tunggal pria, dua pasangan ganda wanita, serta tiga pasangan ganda campuran, akan dikirimkan ke Negeri Mathari Terbit. Mayoritas dari mereka juga bakal diandalkan dalam Asian Games 2006 yang dilaksanakan Desember di Qatar. Ini membuat Jepang Terbuka akan menjadi indikator awal prestasi bulu tangkis Indonesia pada pesta olahraga negara-negara Asia tersebut.

"Kegagalan beruntun yang diderita pemain kita sangat mungkin membuat kepercayaan diri mereka runtuh. Sebaliknya, asalkan mereka memiliki kemauan hal itu bisa jadi cambuk untuk bangkit," papar Rudy.

Namun, bukan hanya masalah mental yang menjadi hambatan Tim Bulu Tangkis Indonesia. Secara teknis, perjalanan pasukan Cipayung, lokasi Pelatnas Bulu Tangkis, akan sangat berat karena prestasi buruk membuat peringkat mereka jelek. Hasil drawing (undian) pun membuat pebulu tangkis Indonesia harus bentrok lebih awal dengan pebulu tangkis unggulan.

Taufik Hidayat misalnya. Pada babak pertama, dia mendapatkan bye. Namun, pada babak kedua, peraih emas Olimpiade Athena 2004 dan juara dunia 2005 itu harus bentrok dengan jagoan Tiongkok, Bao Chunlai, yang merupakan unggulan ke-3/4. Demikian juga dengan Simon Santoso. Pada pertandingan perdana, dia sudah berhadapan dengan unggulan 9/16 dari Malaysia, Kuan Beng Hong. Lebih berat lagi Sony Dwi Kuncoro, yang langsung bentrok dengan unggulan kedua asal Malaysia, Lee Chong Wei.

Drawing menguntungkan didapatkan wakil Indonesia di ganda campuran. Pasangan Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir bakal terhindar dari unggulan pada babak-babak awal. Itu tidak terlepas dari predikat mereka sebagai pemegang peringkat pertama IBF (Federasi Bulu Tangkis Internasional) dan unggulan utama Jepang Terbuka. Namun, itu tidak membuat mereka besar kepala. Di Kejuaraan Dunia 2006 lalu, mereka gagal meski menyandang predikat serupa.

"Tapi, ini bukan berarti langkah kami akan mudah. Saat ini, kekuatan ganda campuran sudah begitu merata," papar Nova.

Sementara itu, pasangan ganda campuran baru Indonesia, Flandy Limpele/ Vita Marissa, bakal langsung melaju ke babak utama. Berbeda dengan penampilan mereka di Korea Terbuka pada Agustus lalu yang harus dilalui melalui babak kualifikasi. Namun, pada putaran kedua, mereka harus bentrok dengan finalis Kejuaraan Dunia 2006 asal Inggris, Anthony Clark/Donna Kellogg.

Rombongan Indonesia akan bertolak ke Tokyo pada Minggu (8/9) besok. Usai berlaga di Jepang Terbuka, beberapa pemain tidak langsung pulang. Beberapa dari mereka akan langsung bertolak mengikuti Tiongkok Terbuka yang dimulai 17 Oktober. (ang)


WAKIL INDONESIA DI JEPANG TERBUKA 2006:
TUNGGAL PRIA: Taufik Hidayat, Simon Santoso, Sony Dwi Kuncoro
GANDA WANITA: Jo Novita/ Greysia Polii, Lita Nurlita/Nathalia Poluakan
GANDA CAMPURAN: Nova Widianto/ Lilyana Natsir, Flandy Limpele/Vita Marissa, M. Rizal/Greysia Polii

[badMania]

I just dun understand, why INA sent 4 pairs of XD (Nova/Lilyana, Tri Kus/Minarti, Flandy/Marissa and Rizal/Polii), but none of them will go to China Open ? Japan to China is very close ........... in reverse for MD, none go to Japan Open, but 2 pairs to China Open.

Technically speaking, only 3 XD pairs are sent by PBSI. Trikus/Minarti have "retired" from Pelatnas quite long long time ago :cool:

Money is always an issue for PBSI! Therefore, no choice for them also.

[2cents]

Tokyo, is probably the most expensive city in the world. While China, could be the least expensive. Those INA players may not have enough money to spend in Japan, but they will be like kings in China.

[taufik-ist]

again from JawaPos ? ......... I didn't believe this newspaper .......
yup your are rite ........ lack of confidence ....... and INA would like to use this Japan Open as barometer for next Asian Games, Qatar 2006.

I just dun understand, why INA sent 4 pairs of XD (Nova/Lilyana, Tri Kus/Minarti, Flandy/Marissa and Rizal/Polii), but none of them will go to China Open ? Japan to China is very close ........... in reverse for MD, none go to Japan Open, but 2 pairs to China Open.

he..he i think CTJAD is from surabaya :)

[**KZ**]

well....i don't see good times for indonesian team

[ctjcad]

he..he i think CTJAD is from surabaya :)
...hmmm...no, i'm not from there(not originally from the island of Java either), eventhough i've been there a few times..just happened to stumble across the article that day..;):)

[babonimut]

Here is the rough translation of Jawa pos article...

http://jawapos.com/index.php?act=detail_c&id=250406

Saturday, 07 Oct 2006,
World Championship Traumatic Failure

JAKARTA - Consecutive failures in the last five tournaments have caused deep trauma within the Indonesian badminton national team. Pessimism clouded the national team during the upcoming Japan Open 2006 which is being held on 10-15 Oct 2006. Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) dared not target winning titles in the 5-star tournament.

"Chances are there as long as the players dare to compete and are willing to play all out. Those two factors are lacking in our players, resulting in failure after failure," said Rudy Hartono, PBSI's chief of talent cultivation and performance sector, to Jawa Pos yesterday.

Indonesia will take part in 3 events at Japan Open 2006. Three men singles, two pairs of women doubles and three pairs of mixed doubles would be sent to Japan. Most of them are key players that are prepared for the Asian Games 2006 which is held at Qatar in December. Hence, Japan Open would be preliminary performance indicator for Indonesian badminton prior to the Asian Games.

Consecutive failures suffered by our players could possibly cause a drop in their self-confidence. Contrastly, as long as they have the will, it could serve as a motivation to rise," explained Rudy.

However, mental problem is not the only obstacles facing the Indonesian badminton. Technically, path of the Cipayung (location of the Indonesian Badminton National Centralised Training Centre) would be difficult because poor performance have caused drastic drop in their international ranking. Drawing results forces Indonesian players to clash early with seeded players.

As an example, Taufik Hidayat. He got a bye in the round 1. However, the 2004 Athens Olympic champion and 2005 world champion must clash with Bao Chun Lai of China, seeded 3/4. Simon Santoso also faced similar fate. In the first round, He was drawn to play Kuan Beng Hong of Malaysia, who is seeded 9/16. Sony Dwi Kuncoro was facing an even more difficult up-hill battle, playing a second seeded Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia.

Indonesian mixed doubles have better drawings. Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir would not be facing other seeded pairs in the early rounds. Thanks to their current number one IBF ranking and Japan Open number one top seeded. However, that did not make them over confident. Even though they held the same ranking, they failed in the recently concluded 2006 World Championship.

"But, this would not imply our path would be easy. Right now, the mixed doubles strength is balanced evenly in the world," said Nova.

In the mean time, Indonesia's newly formed mixed pair, Flandy Limpele/Vita Marissa, was slotted to advance directly to main rounds. This was contrast with their showing in last August at Korean Open, where they had to play in the qualification rounds. However, they have to face the 2006 World Championship finalists, Anthony Clark/Donna Kellogg, in the second round.

Indonesian team would leave for Tokyo on next Sunday (8/9). After Japan Open, some players would not head home straight. Some of them would take part in China Open which was scheduled to start on 17 October 2006. (babonimut)

INDONESIA'S REPRESENTATIVES IN 2006 JAPAN OPEN:
MENS SINGLES: Taufik Hidayat, Simon Santoso, Sony Dwi Kuncoro
WOMEN DOUBLES: Jo Novita/ Greysia Polii, Lita Nurlita/Nathalia Poluakan
MIXED DOUBLES: Nova Widianto/ Lilyana Natsir, Flandy Limpele/Vita Marissa, M. Rizal/Greysia Polii

[ctjcad]

Here is the rough translation of Jawa pos article...
bobonimut, thanks for taking some time in doing the translation for the rest of non-Indonesian-speaking folks(eventhough it's a bit late)..next time, feel free to jump in and help us w/ the translation..;):cool: