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emarang, Central Java: PB Djarum Kudus in Central Java says it is looking to recruit several top women shuttlers from around the world before the Badminton Super League tournament starts in Surabaya, East Java, next month.

The need to hire foreign women players highlights the drought of local talent that the country can rely on.

PB Djarum chief Yoppy Rosimin said on Wednesday the club had yet to determine who would be hired,
because other clubs might be looking at the same names to partake in
the tournament, which is a battle ground for badminton clubs, local and foreign alike.

“We are trying to recruit foreign players to strengthen our women’s singles division, while we’ll remain reliant on our own shuttlers in the men’s divisions,” Yoppy said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Among the women under consideration are world No. 7 Tine Baun of Denmark and world No. 4 Juliane Schenk of Germany.

“We actually also hoped to be able to recruit Thai female shuttler Ratchanok Intanon [world No. 9], but she will not be able to play in the Super League,” Yoppy said, without elaborating.

According to Yoppy, who is also the Super League director, foreigners that have confirmed their participation are Unisys, Renesas and Tonami from Japan; two from South Korea; and Maybank from Malaysia.

He said a total of 10 men’s teams and eight women’s teams would take part in the Super League, which contests three singles and two doubles events each in the men’s and women’s division.