Officials in Sudirman Cup final order scramble

GLASGOW, June 17 (Reuters) Officials at the Sudirman Cup were scrambling today to try and change the order of the play for the final between China and Indonesia later in the day.

When the team sheets were published late yesterday the eagerly anticipated clash between world champion Lin Dan of China and Indonesia's Olympic gold medallist Taufik Hidayat was down as the last of the five matches.

But with holders China widely expected to win 3-0, the final two matches would not be played under tournament rules governing the later stages of the event.

Championship director Anne Smillie told Reuters: ''We are trying to set up a new order with the men's singles as one of the first three matches.'' The difficulty arose yesterday because the two teams could not agree a definitive order.

The tournament referee was obliged to carry out a draw, which unfortunately placed the best match last -- and in clear danger of not being played.

Fans, teams, officials, live TV and other media risk being deprived of a stellar contest between fierce rivals Lin and Hidayat.

Indonesia, who fought back on Saturday to beat England 3-2 in the semis, are making their seventh appearance in the final.

China, five-times winners, are there for the seventh time in succession and beat Indonesia in the last final in 2005.

REUTERS BJR BD1624