Badminton training center falls behind the times<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
A quick tour of the National Badminton Training Center in
\nCipayung, East Jakarta, shows that some parts of it have seen
\nbetter days.<\/p>\n
Several of its wooden badminton courts are scuffed and
\nscratched, and equipment in the cramped, stuffy fitness center is
\nrusting.<\/p>\n
Set back off a side road in its own sprawling compound, the
\ncenter, officially opened by then president Soeharto in November
\n1992, boasts a badminton hall, fitness center, massage room,
\noffices, dormitories, cafeteria, prayer hall and parking areas.<\/p>\n
It's hard to imagine from the state of some facilities --
\nlooking more in keeping with a neighborhood sports center -- that
\nit has produced some of the sport's leading names, past and
\npresent.<\/p>\n
The upkeep of the gym is particularly irksome to men's doubles
\nplayer Luluk Hadiyanto.<\/p>\n
"Well, when we go to the gym, we have to be careful about the
\nequipment because if we have a cut and it's still bleeding, we
\nmight get tetanus," he said recently.<\/p>\n
Upgrading the facility, he added, could help athletes get in
\nprime condition to compete.<\/p>\n
"Even with the current condition of the fitness center, we
\nstill keep training because we are athletes, but it may not be to
\nmaximum effect."<\/p>\n
Fitness workouts are scheduled for each Tuesday and Friday for
\nthe shuttlers. Daily badminton practice is from 7:30 a.m.-11:30
\na.m. and 3:30 p.m.-6 p.m., with a half-day on Saturday and
\nSundays off.<\/p>\n
For unmarried players like Luluk, the center is also home, as
\nthe Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) requires they live
\non site (an exception is Athens Olympic gold medalist Taufik
\nHidayat, who lives in his own residence).<\/p>\n
Luluk complained about the quality and variety of meals served
\nin the center's cafetaria.<\/p>\n
"Almost every day, we get tempe mendoan (deep-fried tempeh in
\nbatter), eggs and rice," he said. "That isn't good enough as I
\nheard that PBSI allocated Rp 35,000 (US$3.8) to Rp 40,000 for
\nshuttlers' food. I prefer to eat outside the Cipayung training
\ncenter."<\/p>\n
His complaints and those of other residents about the center
\nmay be dealt with in the near future. New research and
\ndevelopment head Tan Joe Hok said last month that his goal was to
\nimprove the facilities to a standard befitting the country's
\nleading athletes.<\/p>\n
"Our program for 2005 is to repair everything that needs
\nfixing," he said. "The gymnasium, holes in the court, even to
\nhaving full AC in the dorms and to the food in the dining room."<\/p>\n
Doubles player Candra Wijaya said the 21 practice courts need
\nparticular attention.<\/p>\n
"Currently, the condition of the badminton courts at Cipayung
\nis not really good anymore. But I've seen some repair work being
\ndone after practice sessions, so I think PBSI understands the
\nsituation."<\/p>\n
Former national coach Ivana Lie, who coached the women's
\nshuttlers until last year, noted the fitness center was among the
\nfacilities in need of improvement.<\/p>\n
"We also don't have a device to the measure the players' heart
\nrate although we know that it is important to monitor their
\nfitness."<\/p>\n
Ivana, like Tan, is a proponent of using state of the art
\ntechnology and science in preparing players for the challenges of
\nthe court, including sports psychology.<\/p>\n
"We should make a space for sport psychologists to help
\nimprove shuttlers performance, but so far we underestimate their
\nrole," she said.<\/p>",
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