JAKARTA: Badminton-crazy Indonesia is concerned a deadly bird flu outbreak could claim an unlikely victim — the shuttlecock — officials said yesterday after the government banned imports of Chinese duck feathers. Jakarta is to halt the import of all Chinese poultry products, including dried duck feathers used to make shuttlecocks, after the new H7N9 bird flu strain killed seven people and made 24 ill in eastern China.
The Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) said the decision could lead to a dearth of shuttlecocks as 40 percent of those used in the country are imported from abroad, mainly from China. “I hope the ban won’t last long as I’m afraid that it will have an impact” on the supply of shuttlecocks, PBSI spokesman Ricky Subagja told AFP, adding professional players in the country mainly used shuttlecocks from China.
Indonesia is a former badminton powerhouse but has seen its fortunes on the international stage wane, with Chinese shuttlers now dominating the sport. Deputy Agriculture Minister Rusman Heriawan confirmed yesterday that Indonesia had decided to halt the import of all poultry products from China.
Indonesia fears shuttlecock shortage due to China bird flu
