Hariyanto's decision to quit Indonesia deplored<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) deplored the
\ndecision taken by national badminton player Hariyanto Arbi to
\nswitch allegiance from Indonesia to Singapore after he finishes
\ncompeting in the five-day Indonesia Open in Bali starting on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
KONI deputy chairman Arie Sudewo told reporters on Monday that
\nKONI would, however, respect Hariyanto's decision regarding his
\nfuture.<\/p>\n
\"We regret his decision. We will miss one of the country's top
\nplayers, but we can not restrain him for exercising his personal
\nrights. If his decision was considered, we can do nothing to stop
\nhim. I think we still have many badminton players,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
\nshould give more attention to their athletes, particularly on
\ntheir future.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old had just won the Singapore Open singles final
\non Sunday by defeating Indonesia's young hope Taufik Hidayat, but
\nhis decision to quit his country for Singapore was the main talk
\nprior to the final.<\/p>\n
Hariyanto, the two-time All-England champion and 1996 Olympic
\nsemifinalist, argued that he had limited opportunities back home,
\nparticularly for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.<\/p>\n
He cited his poor performances during the Sudirman Cup and
\nWorld Championship in Copenhagen, Denmark last May. In the latter
\ntournament, he lost to Denmark's Peter Gade-Christensen in the
\nsecond round.<\/p>\n
\"I felt disoriented, and I began thinking of what I wanted to
\npursue in the near future. My performances had dropped. The world
\nbadminton players nowadays are very good,\" he was quoted by
\nKompas daily as saying on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Hariyanto, who is ranked number 30 in the world, repeatedly
\nsaid that his success in the Singapore Open was merely
\n\"incidental\".<\/p>\n
\"PBSI said that all the players groomed in the training center
\nhad equal chances for the Olympics, but in fact, only three
\nplayers who are considered qualified do. The others have to
\nundergo a selection. I try to follow this rule, but deep down in
\nmy heart, I can't accept it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The daily quoted the PBSI official in charge of the training
\ncenter, Christian Hadinata, as saying that three players, Budi
\nSantoso, Hendrawan and Taufik Hidayat, had qualified for the
\nOlympics because of their world rank, which were all in the top
\nten.<\/p>\n
Hari also expressed disappointment, saying that he felt he was
\ndisregarded by PBSI. \"I was waiting for the time when I would be
\nexpelled from the training center. I thought I better withdraw
\nnow before I receive the decision,\" he told the daily. (ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hariyantos-decision-to-quit-indonesia-deplored-1447893297",
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