Indonesia to call top shuttlers for SEA Games<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is demanding yet more from its best
\nbadminton players in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games next month,
\ndespite mounting advice that the roles be given to junior
\nshuttlers.<\/p>\n
Secretary general of the Badminton Association of Indonesia
\n(PBSI) Leo Chandra Wiranata asserted on Monday that the country's
\ntop badminton players should be called up for the event in Kuala
\nLumpur if Indonesia wishes to win five out of the seven gold
\nmedals there.<\/p>\n
\"We must field our strongest shuttlers in order to secure five
\ngold medals, as demanded by the National Sports Council (KONI).
\nCompetition among participating countries is already tough,\" Leo
\ntold reporters.<\/p>\n
\"Even our strongest team will find it difficult to produce a
\nclean sweep because Malaysia is strong in the men's event, as
\nwell as Thailand in the women's category.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, our junior shuttlers are not ready yet to take over
\nsuch a demanding job in the games. They need several more years
\nto develop,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Leo also said that sending a second-string team might
\ndiscourage KONI's target, which is expecting to see Indonesia
\nrestore its pride.<\/p>\n
PBSI has yet to announce its team lineup. A participating
\ncountry is allowed to send eight men and eight women shuttlers to
\ncompete in seven individual and team events.<\/p>\n
\"Actually, I have already proposed the names but I must give
\nthem to PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo for approval. I will
\nannounce it on Tuesday,\" said Leo.<\/p>\n
Earlier, PBSI official for athlete development, Mangombar
\nFerdinand Siregar suggested that PBSI would exclude world number
\nthree Taufik Hidayat and world champion Hendrawan.<\/p>\n
\"Hendrawan needs a rest after the World Championships and the
\nbirth of his daughter. Meanwhile, Taufik still has to regain his
\nphysical fitness,\" Siregar said.<\/p>\n
With Taufik and Hendrawan out and no juniors included, PBSI
\nwill most probably name second-tier shuttlers such as Budi
\nSantoso, Johan Hadikusuma and Rony Agustinus for the men's
\nsingles event.<\/p>\n
In the men's doubles, PBSI looks likely to stick to world
\nchampions Tony Gunawan and Halim Heryanto and Indonesian Open
\nwinners Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto.<\/p>\n
In the women's singles, PBSI has no choice other than to field
\nLidya Djaelawidjaya, Yuli Marfuah and Chindana Hartono, with Atu
\nRosalina being the reserve.<\/p>\n
Grand Prix<\/p>\n
Hendrawan is playing in the US$250,000 Grand Prix finals in
\nthe capital of Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan, which will start on
\nWednesday, despite a spate of problems standing between him and
\nthe title.<\/p>\n
\"After testing the venue this morning, I found the air
\nconditioner affected the movement of the shuttlecock,\" he told
\nThe Jakarta Post from Brunei by phone.<\/p>\n
He admitted that he remained accustomed to the new scoring
\nsystem, which requires a shuttler to play a best-of-five match,
\nwith each game ending at 7 points. Under the old format badminton
\nplayers contest a best-of-three match with the normal game
\nfinishing at 15 points.<\/p>\n
Another major obstacle for Hendrawan is the fact that he
\ncannot fully concentrate on the tournament as his daughter,
\nJosephine Sevilla, has been placed in an incubator after her
\npremature birth on July 25.<\/p>\n
\"I will not be able to fully concentrate until I know that my
\ndaughter has been safely removed from the incubator,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hendrawan will meet Anders Boesen of Denmark in the first
\nround-robin men's singles match in Group B. Indonesia has also
\nfielded Budi Santoso in Group A and Marlev Mainaky in Group C.
\nMeanwhile, Ellen Angelina will play in the women's singles Group
\nA and Lidya Djaelawidjaya is in Group C.<\/p>\n
Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medalists Candra Wijaya and Tony
\nGunawan are competing in the men's doubles Group B, while Halim
\nHaryanto and Sigit Budiarto are in Group A. (nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-to-call-top-shuttlers-for-sea-games-1447893297",
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