Indonesia eyes mixed team title
INDONESIA are quietly confident of a winning run in the mixed team event in the Asian Junior Badminton Championships when the meet gets underway in Bangkok on July 9. The team event will be held from July 9-12 while the individual events will be from July 13-17. The championships will be held at the CPB Badminton & Sports Science Center in Bangkok.
China have won the last three editions of the mixed team event with South Korea runners-up on each occasion. Indonesia, however, did win the boys' team event twice – in 1999 and 2002 before it became a mixed team event in 2006.
Indonesia team manager Fung Permadi, a former Indonesian Thomas Cupper and World Championships runner-up in 1999, said the junior team named for this year's Asian championships has depth. "Our initial target is the final. This team is good enough to reach the final and we will take off from there," said Fung.
At the last junior championships Indonesia won three bronze medals but Fung is hoping for a "better haul" in Bangkok.
"We hope to reach the final in the (mixed) team event. In the individual events we hope to improve on our three bronze medal haul last year.
"Winning the Asian team (senior) title and finishing runners up in the Thomas Cup this year will serve as inspiration to the juniors in Bangkok," said Fung, adding that China, Korea, Japan, Thailand and India "will be our strongest challengers in Bangkok."
Indonesia are seeded third in the mixed team event. China are the top seeds with hosts Thailand seeded second. Japan are seeded fourth and India seeded fifth. Korea are seeded only eighth despite finishing runners-up in the last three editions.
The mixed team event is made up one boys' and girls singles, one boys' doubles and one girls' doubles and one mixed doubles.
THE INDONESIAN TEAM
Boys
Singles
Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo
Ramadhani Muhammad Zulkifli
Ade Reski Dwicahyo
Gatjra Piliang
Boys Doubles
Andika Ramadiansyah-Rinov Rivaldy
Bagas Maulana-Calvin Kristanto
Muhammad Fachrikar-Rizki Adam
Girls
Singles
Gregoria Mariska Tanjung
Desandha Vegarani Putri
Aurum Oktavia Winata
Gabriela Meilani Moningka
Girls Doubles
Apriani Rahayu-Jauza Fadhila Sugiarto
Mychelle Crhystine Bandaso-Serena Kani
Vania Arianti Sukoco-Tania Oktaviani Kusumah
Mixed Doubles
Rinov Rivaldy-Apriani Rahayu
Andika Ramadiansyah-Mychelle Crhystine Bandaso
Amri Sahnawi-Yulfira Barkah
Muhammad Roby Darwis-Vania Arianti Sukoco
