Star Sports Online Asians to lodge protest on the World Badminton Championships From LIM TEIK HUAT in Birmingham FOUR Asian countries, including Malaysia will be protesting against what they see as a lopsided draw favouring the Europeans in the World Badminton Championships, which begins on Monday. Besides Malaysia, the other badminton powerhouse China, Indonesia and South Korea will raise the matter at the team manager's meeting today. China and Indonesia have already submitted their protest letter while South Korea and Malaysiaare planning to follow suit. Indonesia's chief coach Christian Hadinata said yesterday that they were not happy with the draw. We will submit an appeal to the International Badminton Federation (IBF) as there is a reason to do a redraw. “The draw appears to give the European players an easier passage.” Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary Gangga Rao said they planned to protest since there was an agreement among the Asian teams. IBF made a redraw in the men's singles competition last Friday after the China and Malaysia were placed in the same half. China had all their players, including world number one and top seed Chen Hong, placed in the upper half together with three other Malaysians (national number one Wong Choong Hann and Hashim brothers - Roslin and Mohd Hafiz). Roslin and Hafiz have been forced to play each other if both progress to the second round, even after the redraw. National singles coach Misbun Sidek said there was basis for complaint over the draw. “It should not have happened in a World Championships, which is held every two years. I would understand if this was a Grand Prix event. “It is unfair if both players, who are their country's representatives, have to encounter each other to go through the next round.” Malaysian team manager Roland Wong meanwhile advised the players to concentrate on their training and leave the matter to the officials. The Malaysian team had their second training session yesterday morning, lasting two hours. The players will get to train at the National Indoor Arena, the competition venue, today.
