Indonesian top doubles to skip Asian championships

JAKARTA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's top men's doubles Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan will not participate in the Asian badminton championships in Malaysia later this month because the pair have been absent from routine training over the last few days, local press said Monday.

The duo have missed training session since Kido's father passed away on April 2, reported major national newspaper Kompas.

The Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) will send three pairs including Joko Riyadi/Hendra Aprida Gunawan, Candra Wijaya/Nova Widianto and veteran duo Luluk Hadiyanto/Alvent Yulianto.

Meanwhile, senior player Flandy Limpele will team up with Vita Marissa in mixed doubles, aiming to secure another spot in the Beijing Olympics, PBSI head coach Lius Pongoh was quoted as saying.

Flandy/Vita's Olympic dream is under consistent threat from China's Xie Zhongbo/Zhang Yawen who ranked only one spot below the Indonesian shuttlers in a small point margin.

Results from the Asian championships may affect their world ranks, the daily said.