JAKARTA, June 16 (Xinhua) — Indonesia on Tuesday hosted the sixth event of badminton super series championship entitled Djarum Indonesia Open 2009, at the national indoor stadium Istora Senayan.
As many as 284 players from 27 countries take part in the world-class badminton championship sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF) that would end on June 21.
Most players vying in the tournament had just concluded their competition in Singapore Open 2009, the fifth badminton super series event that took place last week.
Five categories comprising of men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles will be played in the championships that provides a total reward of 250,000 U.S. dollars.
The men’s singles defending champion in Indonesia Open, Sony Dwi Kuncoro, the world’s number four from Indonesia, will face fierce challenge against his rivals to defend his championship.
Among Sony’s rivals confirmed to play are Chinese top player Lin Dan, Danish player Peter Hoeg Gade, the world’s number one player Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia and Bao Chunlai, the champion of Singapore Open 2009.
Another Indonesian top player, the world’s number five, Taufik Hidayat, is also scheduled to play in the tournament.
Other world’s top players confirmed to play in the tournament are the Beijing 2008 men’s double gold medalist Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan and their South Korean tough rivals Lee Yong Dae and Lee Hyo Jung.
The fifth seeded women’s double Zhao Tingting and Zhang Yanwen, who championed Singapore Open 2009, were also confirmed to play.
They will rematch with Nitya Krishinda Maheswari and Greysia Polii, finalist of Singapore Open 2009 from Indonesia.
Badminton giant China sent 29 players, the second largest team playing in the tournament after Indonesian team that deploys 64 players.
Other teams taking part in the championships are England, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Thailand, the United States, India, South Korea and Singapore.
