Other Sports

Olympic champion Taufik urges schools to promote badminton

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-05-21 16:00

Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia called on schools outside Java to help boost the development of badminton in a bid to nurture future champions.

"The children showed great enthusiasm and I hope some of them will become the next champions to replace their seniors, like myself," he was quoted as saying Monday by English daily The Jakarta Post.

He made the remarks during the first leg of the Milo School Badminton Competition held in Lampung province on Sumatra island Sunday.

Tungki Ariwibowo claimed a double victory in the boys' singles and doubles, partnering Akbar Reza, in the junior high school category. Neni Rosita won the girls' singles title.

In the elementary school category, Adi Utami and Alfatina won the boys and girls singles titles respectively.

The next leg of the championships will take place in Bali from May 24-27 and in Surabaya from June 7-10.