Badminton body asks advice from former champions<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Past heroes will be recruited to help the
\nnational Thomas Cup and Uber Cup badminton squads rebuild their
\nfighting spirit ahead of the world team championships in May.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia Agus
\nWirahadikusumah said yesterday the nation's badminton greats
\nwould share their experiences with their successors whose
\nnontechnical troubles could threaten their bid to retain their
\ntitles.<\/p>\n
\"We will bring together former national shuttlers, officials
\nand coaches to encourage our players to fight it out in the
\nchampionships,\" Agus said on the sidelines of the National Sports
\nCouncil's congress.<\/p>\n
He said a meeting of renowned players had once been held at
\nthe residence of the association's chairman Gen. Subagyo
\nHadisiswoyo.<\/p>\n
\"We considered another meeting prior to the Thomas Cup and
\nUber Cup finals,\" Agus, a major general who is now posted at the
\nArmed Forces Headquarters, said.<\/p>\n
Old hand Ferry Sonneville, runner-up in the 1959 All England
\nand the world's top shuttler in the 1950s, said yesterday that he
\nand fellow veterans such as Tan Joe Hok responded positively to
\nAgus' appeal.<\/p>\n
\"I suggest that coaches and shuttlers form a well-knit team
\nand work together,\" Ferry said.<\/p>\n
Agus complained that the association had a lack of coaches
\nwhile its new recruits increased.<\/p>\n
The unequal ratio has caused communication troubles between
\nthem, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Ideally, a coach must handle only four athletes. But in our
\nbadminton training center, a coach has to take care of more than
\nfive shuttlers.<\/p>\n
\"Sometimes, the coaches are unaware of their athletes'
\npersonal problems, which may affect their performance in a
\ntournament.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that regular counseling by officials and coaches will
\nprevent our shuttlers, who are professional athletes, from being
\nprone to small disturbances, such as girlfriend problems or
\nstomach aches. The players must be able to take care of
\nthemselves.\"<\/p>\n
Agus said shuttlers who could not get along with their coaches
\nmust speak to the center's director, Christian Hadinata, or other
\ncoaches or officials when they face personal problems.<\/p>\n
Head of athlete development for the association Mangombar
\nFerdinand Siregar said Monday the association would ask for help
\nfrom psychologist Singgih Gunarsa.<\/p>\n
Agus said the association also planned to take athletes for a
\npilgrimage \"to ask for God's blessing\". However, he failed to
\nelaborate on the location of the pilgrimage.<\/p>\n
The association will name 10 players for each of the badminton
\nteam championships after the Swiss Open which is now underway.<\/p>\n
Siregar said the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup squads would play
\nsimulation matches in the first or second week of April. (yan)<\/p>",
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