JAKARTA, May 30: Six English players have withdrawn from this week's Indonesia Open badminton championship following the deadly earthquake on Java island, Indonesia's badminton association said Tuesday.

“They have decided to withdraw, citing the earthquake as a reason.

“They did not give any other reasons,” Fahril Sofyan, the association's deputy chairman, told Elshinta radio.

Those withdrawing from the championship include mixed-doubles pair Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms, he said, noting:

“They are strong contenders so it will make it easier for Indonesian players.

“The annual six-star grand prix event is scheduled to be held from Thursday through Sunday in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province and Indonesia's second-largest city. Qualifying rounds began on Monday.

More than 5,400 people were killed in Saturday's earthquake, which left widespread devastation in the central part of Java island, including the cultural city of Yogyakarta.—AFP