DJARUM INDONESIA OPEN - Official launch in Planet Hollywood

The Djarum Indonesia Open Super Series organizers held a press conference at Planet Hollywood Kartika Candra Jakarta on June 9, 2009. The press conference, which started at 1:30PM was attended by the head of PBSI (Badminton Federation of Indonesia) Djoko Santoso, committee head Mimi Irawan, by Yan Haryadi, representative of the title sponsor, and by media partners from trans 7 as well as by a BWF representative and some players. By Ira Ratnati, Badzine correspondent, live in Jakarta. The US$250,000 tournament will kick off on June 16 and run until June 21 at the historical badminton building Istora Senayan Jakarta. Shuttlers from 27 countries will battle to prove their worth. Last year, this Super Series tournament was not as exciting because of some shuttlers had chosen to take some time off before the Beijing Olympics, but this year the top shuttlers have confirmed their attendance. Lin Dan, Peter Gade, Wang Yihan, Xie Xingfang, Cai Yun / Fu Haifeng, Wong Pei Tty / Chin Eei Hui are some of the names that will show up at the tournament. Indonesia, as the host of the event, will come to the tournament at full throttle, with shuttlers from both the junior and senior ranks, including Taufik Hidayat, who skipped the recent Aviva Singapore Open. Four shuttlers from Pelatnas (national training center) attended the press release and said that they would show their best at their first Super Series event no matter who their opponents are. “I will try to do my best, and show the world what can I do on the court,” said Richie Dili Puspita,who plays mixed doubles with her partner Tantowi Ahmad. Tommy Sugiarto and Linda Weni Fanetri expressed simliar intentions. Christian Hadinata and Lius Pongoh, who came as the representatives of the PBSI, said that during this tournament, Indonesia will try to come back to the top after their failure at the Sudirman Cup last month. The photographers' positions during the event was one of the issues raised during this press conference, because of the history at last year event where the committee and the photographers had some miscommunication about the photographers' area.