`Mission impossible' in Sudirman Cup<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) conceded that it
\nwould be next to impossible for the national team to take the
\nSudirman Cup, but asked team members not to lose their grit when
\nplaying in the mixed-event tournament.<\/p>\n
"I know this will be like mission impossible, but they must
\nhave a strong desire to bring home the Sudirman trophy," PBSI
\nchairman Chairul Tanjung said here on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
"This nation needs an achievement like that to boost our
\npride. This nation needs new heroes," he said, in his effort to
\ninstill motivation in the team.<\/p>\n
Chairul led the team in a farewell meeting with the newly
\nelected chairman of the National Sports Council (KONI), Agum
\nGumelar, prior to their departure to the Netherlands on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Sudirman Cup will run in Eindhoven from March 18 to March
\n23.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will send 18 players to launch its bid to equal the
\nfeat it mastered in 1989, its only triumph to date in the
\nchampionship.<\/p>\n
Despite sending the All England's doubles champions of Candra
\nWijaya and Sigit Budiarto, Indonesia's chances have been written
\noff given the recent poor performance in the women's field.<\/p>\n
However, Agum, who is also the minister of transportation,
\ntried not to miss a chance at motivating the players to do their
\nutmost in the tournament.<\/p>\n
"Wake up and do your best. I'm definitely sure you can seize
\nthe Sudirman Cup," he told the players.<\/p>\n
The matches are scheduled to start on March 18, but
\nIndonesia's first match will be the next day against England,
\nwhich, as Agum said, could be decisive in Indonesia's next move.<\/p>\n
Indonesia and England are in Group 1B with Denmark, while
\nGroup 1A sees champion China, South Korea and Thailand.<\/p>\n
The team's chief de mission, Karsono, looked equally
\noptimistic, saying: "We're ready to fight. We can bring home the
\nSudirman Cup."<\/p>\n
Since 1989 when Indonesia grabbed the first Sudirman Cup,
\nwhich was named after the country's most distinguished badminton
\nplayer, the national players have failed to repeat the victory.
\nThe national team's next best performance came when it reached
\nthe finals four times, only to lose out to South Korea and China,
\ntwice apiece.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mission-impossible-in-sudirman-cup-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}