Jakarta: The Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) has sent 17 players to compete at the prestigious 2019 All England badminton tournament will be held at the Birmingham Arena, England, from March 6 to March 10.
PBSI’s Head of Development and Achievement, Susi Susanti said that the All England was one of the important tournaments in the world and PBSI was determined to do well at the tournament.
“All England is a very prestigious tournament and we would like to win at least 1 title,” Susanti told Indonesian media.
PBSI has previously set to win two titles including men’s doubles and mixed doubles for the tournament, but the target was revised due to recent retirement of Indonesia’s top female mixed doubles player Lilyana Natsir from her badminton career.
Having said that, Susanti was certain that Indonesia’s men’s doubles department has the biggest chance of winning the All England title.
“We have several strong men’s doubles pair besides Kevin Sanjaya/Marcus Gideon. Like last year, hopefully we can win a title (men’s doubles) in Birmingham,” said Susanti.
However, Susi Susanti who won the 1992 Barcelona Olympic gold medal, also hoped that Indonesia’s men’s singles and women’s doubles department can produce some surprises.
“I am looking for surprises. It’s been 25 years since we last won the singles event,” added Susanti.
Susanti was the last Indonesian women’s singles player to win the All England tournament in 1994. While Hariyanto Arbi was also the last men’s singles player from Indonesia to win the prestigious tournament. Arbi defeated compatriot Ardy Wiranata 15–12, 17–14 to claim the title in 1994.
