Benny gets red card from Davis Cup match<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's number one Benny Wijaya has been
\nsidelined for the Davis Cup qualifying round match against South
\nKorea in Seoul next week, giving away his place to debutant Teddy
\nTanjung.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Indonesian Tennis Association Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja told reporters on Wednesday night that Benny did
\nnot deserve the Asia Oceania Group One tie for \"not showing
\ncommitment to national interest.\"<\/p>\n
\"We need a player who consistently devotes himself to his
\ncountry without reservation. There are only yes or no answers for
\nthose who are called up for events in which national pride is at
\nstake,\" Sarwono said in a rare emotion-charged tone.<\/p>\n
Benny, a Davis Cupper since 1990, signed a three year deal
\nworth US$250,000 with a Taiwanese club last year. He said after
\nhis first-round exit from the Indonesia Men's Open two weeks ago
\nthat he was eager to play the classic Davis Cup duel against the
\nSouth Koreans.<\/p>\n
Non-playing captain and coach Wailan Walalangi has also picked
\nseasoned young prodigies Suwandi, Donny Susetyo and Bonit
\nWiryawan to complete the team's lineup.<\/p>\n
\"Benny thinks about his club first. We have no doubts about
\ndropping him from the team,\" Wailan said. Citing an example,
\nWailan said Benny had to ask his coach for permission before
\ndeciding to don national colors.<\/p>\n
Wailan denied that his squad has a dim chance of winning
\nwithout Benny. \"We never rely on a certain player. The Davis Cup
\nis a team game,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Wailan, former national player who powered Indonesia into the
\nDavis Cup World Group match in 1986, found a technical reason for
\nhis decision to sideline Benny. \"He did not train for the past
\ntwo months,\" said Wailan.<\/p>\n
South Korea has made a slight change to its squad which lost
\n2-3 to a Benny-led team here last year. New face Lee Hyung-taik,
\nwho beat Suwandi in Hiroshima's Asian Games last October, will
\njoin veterans Yoon Yong-il, Chang Eui-jong and Kim Chi-wan.<\/p>\n
The national team has been prepared for the Feb. 3-5 duel at
\nthe air-conditioned Senayan indoor tennis stadium. The five-
\nrubber best-of-five tie will be played on artificial turf.<\/p>\n
\"Chilly weather is the toughest hurdle, apart from South
\nKorean's fanatic crowd,\" Wailan said. The temperature in Seoul is
\nreportedly between 0 and -10 Celsius.<\/p>\n
Indonesia leads South Korea 4-3 in their Davis Cup long
\nrivalry dating back from the early 1970s, with each winning its
\nhome matches. \"This time we are poised to break the jinx,\"
\nSarwono vowed.<\/p>\n
The national squad will leave for Seoul on Sunday, in an
\nattempt to get used to the unfriendly weather. (amd)<\/p>",
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