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Shuttlers try newly renovated Istora stadium ahead of Indonesia Masters
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Japanese players are seen trying out the newly renovated Istora Senayan during a training session on Monday afternoon. The players are set to compete in the 2018 Daihatsu Indonesia Masters starting on Tuesday. (JP/Ramadani Saputra)
T
op shuttlers from 20 countries have arrived in the capital to participate in the 2018 Daihatsu Indonesia Masters that will be held from Jan. 23 to 28.
On Monday, some players tested out the new venue, which had been renovated ahead of the 18th Asian Games in August.
A day before the tournament starts, players from countries such as Japan and Denmark were seen trying out the new courts in the afternoon.
Top players such as 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalists Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi as well as 2017 World Championship winner Nozomi Okuhara from Japan were seen listening to their coaches during a training session on a court.
Meanwhile, several Indonesian players had finished their training before the Japanese team arrived on the court. The duo of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto, who won the Malaysia Masters on Sunday, were among players attending the afternoon training.
The organizers have designated a warm-up court outside the stadium for players to use before competing.
The newly renovated stadium has a single seat design to provide comfort for spectators.
The 2018 masters will kick off with a qualification round on Tuesday. With US$350,000 prize up for grabs, the tournament has attracted top players, including Viktor Axelsen from Denmark and Indonesian favorites Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir.
