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TOP POSITIONS NEARLY LOCKED FOR THE JVC ABC
JAKARTA: October 20, 2000
The top seeds will be
determined next week for the JVC Asian Badminton Championships. After a strong showing at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Hendrawan of Indonesia has taken over the world's #1 position in Men's Singles from teen
sensation, Taufik Hidajat and leads currently by only one ranking point. Olympic Gold Medallists, Candra Wijaya/Tony Gunawan are dominating the Men's Doubles category and have proven to be the most consistent team
in the world this year. China's Gold Medallist, Gong Zhichao has an equally insurmountable lead in the Ladies' Singles category over her teammates who occupy the second and third places as well. Ge Fei and
Gu Jun, who have been partners since they were 9 years old, will complete yet another season on top of the world and Asian rankings. In Mixed Doubles, the Indonesian pair of Trikus and Minarti hold a narrow lead
over the Olympic Gold Medallists from China, Zhang Jun and Gao Ling.
Men's Singles
Hendrawan has proven that he is still Indonesia's best performer under pressure. His
victories at the Thomas Cup and strong showing in the Olympic Games have proven that this veteran is peaking and leads his country in this category. Taufik Hidajat, who is the "heir apparent" to Hendrawan,
has shown flashes of brilliance, but will need to mature mentally before he is able to claim to be the best of the best. Gold Medallist, Ji Xipeng of China, drew near to the top position after his great showing in
Sydney and moved into the third position this week ahead of compatriot, Xia Xuangxe. Gopichand, of India remains a bright, new face on the Asian badminton scene in eighth position after the Indonesian, Marleve
Mainaky, and Chinese #3, Luo Yigang. Fung Permadi is back in the top ten in the 10th position this week.Ladies' Singles
Since overtaking the #1 position from Dai Yun early
in the year, Gong Zhichao has dominated tournaments she's entered in the Ladies' Singles category. Gong will likely remain in the #1 spot for many more weeks as her lead is more than 100 ranking points above
Yun. Questions remain as to how long Ye Zhaoying will continue to play as she languishes in the third spot this week. The young Korean, Lee Kyun Won, is the best challenger to the Chinese in this category
moving up from the 8th position just over a month ago into the 4th
spot this week ahead of China's Gong Ruina. Wang Chen, of Hong Kong, is also enjoying a rebirth to her glory days back in 1996 – 98 where she was one of China's top singles players. Men's Doubles
Last year's JVC Asian Rankings champions, Kim Dong Moon/Ha Tae Kwon have fallen from their dominant position this year (currently in 3rd
place) and Gold Medallists, Candra/Tony, have taken over the top spot. Lee Dong Soo/Yoo Yong Sung have also proven not to have the ability to win tournaments; often making it to the finals and losing as they have in both of their last two events, the Malaysiaand Olympic Games. Malaysia's most consistent players, Lee Wan Wah/Choong Tan Fook, currently in the 5
th
spot, have proven that they can be contenders for championships, but need more experience in order to improve. After weeks of losing touch with their comrades, the defending SEA Games champions from Thailand, Pramote Teerawiwatana/Tesana Panvisvas have made it back into the top ten in the 10
th spot this week.Ladies' Doubles
Clearly, there is nobody in the class of Ge Fei and Gu Jun at this point in the Ladies' Doulbes category. There hasn't been since 1997! Only
time will tell how much longer this pair can stay on top of their game. Their closest competition has come from fellow Chinese players Huang Nenyang and Yang Wei and Koreans Ra Kyung Min/Chung Jae Hee who are in
the second and third positions respectively on the JVC Rankings.
Mixed Doubles
China's Gold Medallists, Zhang Jun/Gao Ling closed a considerable gap in ranking points at Sydney
with their victory over Trikus/Minarti from Indonesia. But the Indonesians remain on top of the rankings this week. Arguably the most competitive category in the JVC Rankings, Kim Dong Moon/Ra Kyung Min,
currently in 3rd
place, as well as Liu Yong/Ge Fei from China and Bambang/Zelin from Indonesia are also very competitive teams. We'll see which one of these pairs is able to hold onto the top spot to qualify in the first position leading into the JVC Asian Badminton Championships in November.
The JVC Asian Badminton Rankings acts as the seeding process for the JVC Asian Badminton Championships each year. Players finishing the season in the #1 position on the JVC Asian Badminton Rankings
and who compete at the JVC ABC event will receive USD 1,000 and a JVC product. These prizes will be given out at the JVC ABC to all players finishing in the highest position on the JVC Asian Rankings therefore
qualifying them as the #1 seeded players at the JVC ABC
Issued by International Management Group, Jakarta on behalf of
the Asian Badminton Confederation. If you require more information,
please contact Ms. Maya Hidajat of IMG Jakarta at Tel: ,
Fax: or E-mail:
mhidajat.
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