KONI sees Thomas\/Uber Cup as Olympic stepping-stone<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) considers the
\nThomas and Uber cups, badminton's premier team events, as the
\nbenchmark for its goals in the Olympic Games in Sydney in
\nSeptember.<\/p>\n
KONI vice chairman Arie Sudewo said on Thursday the players'
\nperformance in the cups next week would indicate their chances in
\nthe Olympics.<\/p>\n
"I hope our men's and women's teams will be able to achieve
\nthe target of retaining the Thomas Cup for the 12th time and
\nreaching the semifinal of the Uber Cup. That will help us to win
\ngold medals in the Olympics," he said during a visit to the
\nIndonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has targeted winning gold in at least the men's
\nsingles and men's doubles at the Olympics from Sept. 15 to Oct.
\n1.<\/p>\n
The Thomas Cup has long been a symbol of Indonesia's supremacy
\nin the sport, with the men's shuttlers winning it 11 times since
\n1958. The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) aims to bring
\nit home for a fourth consecutive time, a feat it also achieved
\nfrom 1970 to 1979.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is in the Thomas Cup's yellow group with Sweden,
\nEngland and powerhouse China. Host Malaysia, the runner-up in
\n1998, is in the blue group with Denmark, South Korea and India
\nfor the event from May 11 to May 21.<\/p>\n
In the Uber Cup, Indonesia is in the pink group with Japan,
\nDenmark and Malaysia. Defending champion China is in the purple
\ngroup with South Korea, Sweden and the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
Arie encouraged the players to win over spectators through
\nsportsmanship.<\/p>\n
"Don't fear your opponents. You are on the same court with the
\nsame conditions. All you have to do is do your best without
\nignoring the values of sportsmanship.<\/p>\n
"Shuttlers must be able to maintain their condition, boost
\ntheir fighting spirit and self-confidence to win."<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the International Badminton Federation (IBF) issued
\nthe list of 162 Olympic qualifiers on Wednesday. A total of 19
\nIndonesian shuttlers qualified for the event.<\/p>\n
Mia Audina Tjiptawan, the former Indonesian second ranked
\nwomen's singles player, is included on the list playing for the
\nNetherlands despite the fact she has not been a resident of the
\ncountry for a year, which is the IBF requirement.<\/p>\n
Arie, who is also the country's Olympic executive training
\ndirector, said Indonesia left the matter up to the International
\nOlympic Committee (IOC).<\/p>\n
"We leave Mia's case completely to the IOC and IBF. Whatever
\nthe decision is, we can deal with it. It's the IOC's full
\nauthority to decide who qualifies for the event. We have to take
\nthe risk. It's in the name of sportsmanship."<\/p>\n
PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo said Mia was no longer
\nIndonesia's concern.<\/p>\n
"She asked to move to the Netherlands with her husband and we
\nallowed her to do so. If she qualifies for the Olympics, that's
\nthe decision of the IBF. Even if she has yet to stay in the
\nNetherlands for a year, it's up to the IBF and the Badminton
\nAssociation of the Netherlands."<\/p>\n
PBSI training director Christian Hadinata said he was unaware
\nof the list but he did not fault Mia for moving abroad.<\/p>\n
"She has proved she could reach better achievements in the
\nNetherlands. She had many problems outside badminton here which
\ncaused her poor form. It's good for her to be able to overcome
\nher difficulties."<\/p>\n
KONI also held a doping counseling session for shuttlers.
\n(yan)<\/p>",
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