JP\/3\/TAUFIK<\/p>\n
Agencies
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Following the ongoing dispute with the Singapore Badminton
\nAssociation (SBA) over the status of badminton star Taufik
\nHidayat, the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has
\ndecided to try preventing Taufik from playing in international
\nevents until his status is clear.<\/p>\n
"A PBSI board of directors' meeting decided on Tuesday to ask
\nthe International Badminton Federation (IBF) to ban Taufik from
\ntaking part in any international events," PBSI's secretary-
\ngeneral Lutfi Hamid told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
"We don't have any intention of banning Taufik from joining
\nthe Singaporean squad but he must follow the proper procedures,"
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
The PBSI also decided at the meeting not to register Taufik
\nfor two badminton Grand Prix tournaments, namely the four-star
\nUS$125,000 All England from Mar. 5 to Mar. 10 and the Swiss Open
\nfrom Mar. 11 to Mar. 17.<\/p>\n
Taufik has resigned from the national squad because of his
\ndisappointment over how the PBSI treated him in 2001 during the
\ntenure of previous chairman, Subagyo Hadisiswoyo.<\/p>\n
While he had still not fully detached from the Indonesian
\nbadminton authorities, Taufik signed a contract with the SBA
\nwhich led to confusion and anger among PBSI officials.<\/p>\n
Lutfi said that the PBSI has asked its Singaporean counterpart
\nto clarify the matter based on "personal relations and
\nunderstandings".<\/p>\n
"We arranged to have a meeting with the SBA last week but they
\ncanceled it saying that the official in charge was on leave," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"This shows that the SBA lacks the will to settle the matter,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Taufik, 21, said last month he had decided to leave Indonesia
\nand play for Singapore in open tournaments. But he said he would
\nstill represent Indonesia in major international sporting events
\nsuch as the Olympics and the Thomas Cup.<\/p>\n
Hidayat is the world's number 11 men's singles player.<\/p>\n
Separately, PBSI spokesman Riza Primadi said the IBF statutes
\nallowed it to ban a player who was not under the wing of a member
\norganization or was not in good standing with the member
\norganization.<\/p>\n
Taufik, who in 1999 became the youngest player to reach an All
\nEngland final, announced last year he had decided to quit the
\nnational team after he was barred from participating in the
\nDenmark Open after missing a training session.<\/p>\n
He said at the time he would concentrate on his studies.<\/p>\n
Hidayat has frequently been at odds with local badminton
\nofficials. He once criticized former association chairman,
\nretired general Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, as being unfit to lead the
\norganization because he was a military man.<\/p>\n
His move to Singapore sees him reunited him with his personal
\nmentor Mulyo Handoyo, who has been hired as the city state's
\nsingles coach.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp3taufik-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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