Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA News) - Brunei Darussalam will be the only country not taking part in badminton compettions in the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang on November 11 to 22, event organizing committee `chief Mimi Irawan said.

Based on the list of athletes that had been received ten countries will send their badminton athletes to the Games, she said.

They are Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Timor Leste and Indonesia.

"For the men`s group event only nine countries will take part with Timor Leste not participating while in the women`s group event only seven will take part and three countries will be absent namely Timor Leste, Cambodia and Myanmar," Mimi said.

The chief of tournament and referee affairs of the All Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) said the badminton matches would be held in Jakarta on November 12 to 19.

Seven gold medals will be offered for grabs, namely two in the men`s and women`s group events and five in the men`s and women`s singles, double and mixed double events.

"The group event will be held earlier for three days and will be followed by individual events. Seeded players will be determined in the next few days," she said.

Mimi said Indonesia expects to win minimally four golds in the event like in 2009 in Laos.

PBSI secretary general Yacob Rusdianto had earlier admitted that Indonesia`s biggest chance to win golds would be in the men`s and mixed double`s events.

"But we hope women players would be able to make a surprise at the SEA Games," he said.

On a separate occasion PBSI`s chief of achievement and development Lius Pongoh admitted the chance for the women to win gold medals is slim as Thailand and Singapore have better players.

"For the women`s group and single events the Indonesian players are ranked lower than those of Thailand and Singapore. But the chance of the women`s double players to win gold medals is fifty-fifty," he said.

Lius said Thailand has strong women players such as Pomtip Buranapresertsuk (ranked 12), Inthanon Ratchanok (ranked 13) and Salakjit Ponsana (ranked 24).
(Uu.H-YH/HAJM/S012)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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