Badminton body urged to be prudent in selecting chief<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports
\nHayono Isman has urged participants of the Badminton Association
\nof Indonesia's national congress to look further than someone's
\nposition in choosing a chairman.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Vice President Try
\nSutrisno yesterday, Hayono said that if participants only
\nconsidered a person's position then they might be disappointed
\nwhen that person no longer held the position.<\/p>\n
\"It's obvious by media reports that government or military
\nofficers are the main nominees to chair an association due to
\ntheir ability to raise funds. But sometimes a particular person
\nis not the right man to chair an association,\" he said in his
\noffice.<\/p>\n
Four of the association's Jakarta mayoralty branches have
\nnamed as a candidate Subagyo Hadi Siswoyo, the Army's deputy
\nchief of staff. Ten provincial branches have supported their
\nchoice.<\/p>\n
But the West Jakarta mayoralty branch has named businessman
\nAburizal Bakrie.<\/p>\n
The congress will take place at Hotel Indonesia from Nov. 28
\nto Dec. 1.<\/p>\n
\"The keyword in leading an organization is harmony,\" Try said,
\nas quoted by Hayono.<\/p>\n
Try, who was chairman of the association prior to becoming
\nvice president, also said congress participants should not pit
\none nominee against the other but encourage them to work in
\nharmony to improve the country's performance in badminton.<\/p>\n
Hayono said he supported Aburizal statement, saying that Ical
\n(Aburizal's nickname) was ready either to be nominated or work
\ntogether with Subagyo.<\/p>\n
\"I think Pak Ical has the potential to be included in the
\nassociation's national committee, perhaps as executive director,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The association must discuss improving its organizational
\nstructure so it can improve athletes' achievements and introduce
\nbetter programs for them in the future, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The people still expect much from badminton, as it is the
\nonly sport in which we can constantly reach world achievements,\"
\nHayono said.<\/p>\n
Try also expressed expectations that the association would
\ngroom its athletes to enable them to win more than one gold in
\nthe 2000 Olympics in Sydney.<\/p>\n
At the occasion, Try also urged the congress steering
\ncommittee to realize the association's plan of having a national
\nbadminton academy.<\/p>\n
\"But I told him that we do not even have any sports science
\nand medical centers, which are needed to develop all sports,
\nincluding badminton, in Indonesia. We don't even have a national
\nsports academy,\" Hayono said.<\/p>\n
Soccer<\/p>\n
Hayono also said that Try had urged the Indonesian Soccer
\nAssociation to increase the discipline of its supporters so as to
\navoid unruly behavior and chaotic conditions. Previous league
\nfinals and SEA Games soccer finals have seen untoward behavior by
\nsoccer fans.<\/p>\n
Hayono said the association must also consider ways to develop
\nsoccer in the country so the national team could improve its
\nachievements.<\/p>\n
\"In the 1980s we could easily beat Japan. But now that Japan
\nhas qualified for next year's World Cup in France, I ask myself
\nwhether Japan is getting better or if we are getting worse,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Hayono said that if the association wanted to compete in the
\n13th Asian Games in Bangkok next year, it must be transparent in
\nits proposal to the National Sports Council.<\/p>\n
The council has asked sports organizations to submit their
\nproposals by today at the latest. The proposals must state what
\nchances the athletes have in the quadrennial event.<\/p>\n
\"The association must be realistic in its proposal. If our
\nnational team can only reach the quarterfinals, just say it
\nfrankly. Don't give false hope and disappoint our people by
\nsaying that a team can reach the Games' semifinals,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"However, I think our team still has a chance to qualify for
\nthe Games main draw, but not to reach the semis,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The fourth Indonesian soccer league series started last week.
\n(yan)<\/p>",
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