Badminton - Defending Champion Jaya Raya Beaten By Hakuto Bank

SURABAYA, E Java, Feb 20 (Antara) - Defending Jaya Raya was surprisingly beaten 2-3 by Hakuto Bank at Djarum Super League Badminton 2017 here on Sunday. Hakuto Bank gained the first victory through its women's single player Saena Kawakami who defeated Ruselli Hartawan 21-13, 21-16. The second win was contributed by Rei Nagata after overpowering Asty Dwi Widyaningrum 17-21, 21-11 and 24-22. Mayu Matsutomo added with another victory after defeating Sri Fatmawati 23-21, 21-16. Jaya Raya made two wins in the women's double event through Phita/Haningtyas Mentari/Virni Putri and Apriani Rahayu/Jauza Fadhila Sugiarto. Phita/Virni defeated Natsumi Uratani/Yumi Murayama 21-15, 21-16 while Apriani/Jauza beat Mayu Matsumoto/Wakana Nagahara 22-20, 21-16. Jaya Raya said the results on the first day of the group event were not a problem because its players were all junior players. "We have indeed sent junior players to the Super League this time. Before when we fielded foreign and senior players we became champions three times in a row. Now we wish to try our junior players against world-caliber players. We sent young players as a tryout and the results were that they could compete," Jaya Raya team manager Erwan Purnomo said after the match. Hakuto Bank on the other hand said that they were lucky to be able to take three victories at the opening matches. "With today's formation it was found we could make three wins first through the singles event. Unexpectedly however we lost in the doubles event. Perhaps we will keep the formation while rotation will possibly be made on the third singles player," Hakuto Bank coach Nunung Subandoro said. In the next game at 6pm on Monday Jaya Raya would meet PB Djarum and it was predicted it would field its strongest players. "Tomorrow we meet Djarum. We will keep coordinating with the coaches. Perhaps rotation would be done in the formation of singles players while that of the doubles players would remain. We still have yet to discuss it with the team of coaches," he said. The USM Blibli.com team that day defeated Japanese team Hitachi 5-0. The director of Super League, Achmad Budiharto, said he was optimistic that the tournament this time would be tighter and has better quality with the participation of world-class players. The All Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) hoped young players in the country could use Djarum Super League 2017 for increasing their experience. "The presence of world players would be very beneficial for young players to get lessons and experience especially self-confidence to enter world-level competitions," Oei Wijanarko, PBSI East Java official, said on behalf of PBSI chief Wiranto at a press conference here on Saturday. He made the statement with regard to the participation of young players in the tournament such as Jonathan Christie, Ihsan Maulana, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, Hanna Ramadini and others. The young players would have an opportunity to meet world-class players such as Lee Yong Dae, Kenichi Tago, Ma Jin and Zhang Beiwen that would take part in the event. "The presence of top world players in the event would be very useful to give positive energy to our young players to get experience needed to improve their achievement later. In view of that they must play with full spirit and uphold sportsmanship to make the best in the event," he said. Djarum Super League this year offering Rp3.3 billion worth of total cash prizes is participated in by 10 clubs for the men's events and also 10 clubs for the women's events, each to be divided into two groups. In Group A Musica Champions defending champion would join Mutiara Cardinal, Tjakrindo Masters, Hitachi (Japan) and USM Blibli.com. In Group B there will be second seed Berkat Abadi Banjarmasin, PB Djarum, Sport Affair (Malaysia), Tricky Panders (Japan) and Granular (Thailand). In the women's event, Group C will consist of Berkat Abadi as the top seed, Tjakrindo Masters, USM Blibli.com, Gifu Tricky Panders (Japan), Kumamoto Saishunkan (Japan), PB Djarum and defending champion Jaya Raya.