Indonesia pledges ready to hold int' l badminton super series tournament in new venue

JAKARTA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian organizer of international badminton super series premier championship said that all necessities and accommodations to hold the event in the new venue have been set, ready to hold the matches until the final rounds.

Speaking in a press conference here on Sunday, Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) Secretary General Ahmad Budiharto said the new venue to host the championship has been set, ready to replace the landmark badminton stadium of Istora Senayan to accommodate the badminton super series tournament this year.

PBSI, which organizes the event, must relocate the venue as the Istora Senayan is now under reconstruction project to host the Asian Games sports event scheduled for next year.

Jakarta's landmark convention center of JCC, located nearby, was picked by the organizer to take over Istora Senayan in hosting the annual tournament.

Ahmad said that the incoming badminton tournament might get less enthusiasm from spectators in the Muslim majority country as it is held amid the fasting month of Ramadan.

"This is the first experience for Indonesia (to hold the event during Ramadan). There could be lesser spectators to come to the venue to watch the matches," he said.

He, however, said that with lesser spectator capacity in the new venue, the decreasing number of spectators would likely become no problem as the tournament would still be packed by spectators.

"The capacity in JCC is around 3,400 for players and officials taking part in the matches. It can accommodate 2,500 spectators, far lesser than in Istora Senayan at 6,000. It might fit with our prediction on the event organizing during Ramadan," he added.

He pointed out that the incoming event would still be highlighted on aspects that combine sports and entertainment that made the annual event held in Indonesia regarded as the best one in the world, awarded by Badminton World Federation (BWF).

More than 310 players, including the 20 best-seeded ones, from 21 countries and regions would take part in the week-long tournament starting from Monday to Sunday.