PBSI changes mind on Sudirman Cup target<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The criticism heaped on the Badminton
\nAssociation of Indonesia (PBSI) over its decision to put aside
\nthe Sudirman Cup and prioritize the World Championships has
\napparently been enough to make its officials change their mind.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, PBSI executive director Karsono corrected the
\nstatement issued by chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo during the
\nnational championships in January in Banjarmasin, South
\nKalimantan.<\/p>\n
\"The PBSI realizes that a place in the semifinals is not a
\ntarget at all. It would be better for the PBSI not to send
\nshuttlers to the event than to have such a target,\" he told
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
\"We have reviewed the target and now we are aiming to grab the
\ntitle with everything we've got.\"<\/p>\n
This, however, is a target that seems too good to be true as
\nIndonesia -- which will only rely on the men's singles, men's
\ndoubles and mixed doubles -- is facing the 1999 runner-up Denmark
\nand dark horse England in the round-robin competition from May 28
\nto June 3 at the San Pablo Stadium in Seville, Spain.<\/p>\n
Another group will feature defending champion China, two-time
\nwinner South Korea and Sweden.<\/p>\n
Indonesia took the Cup on its inauguration in 1989. South
\nKorea won the title twice in 1991 and 1993 while China has held
\nthe trophy since 1995.<\/p>\n
Subagyo had said that the target had been set due to
\nIndonesia's weakness in the women's sector, both singles and
\ndoubles. This was an opinion that was later criticized by some
\nbadminton observers.<\/p>\n
In 1999, Indonesia narrowly lost 3-2 to Denmark in the
\nsemifinals after losing in the women's singles and doubles and
\nmen's singles.<\/p>\n
\"The PBSI will also provide bonuses for shuttlers if they
\nmanage to bring home the Cup. I can't say what kind of bonus
\nbecause we are still considering it,\" Karsono said.<\/p>\n
He also revealed that the PBSI would have a meeting on Friday
\nwith shuttlers at the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung,
\nEast Jakarta, to encourage shuttlers who had expressed their
\nobjections due to their personal targets in the World
\nChampionships and the semifinals target.<\/p>\n
World number three men's singles shuttler Taufik Hidayat
\nrejected the possibility of shuttlers boycotting the Sudirman
\nCup.<\/p>\n
\"I've heard nothing about any plans to boycott the Sudirman
\nCup if the target is only to reach the semifinals,\" he told
\nreporters while watching juniors competing in the Jakarta Open at
\nSenayan.<\/p>\n
\"If I could choose, however, I would prefer to concentrate on
\nthe individual World Championships. I have prepared myself to
\ngrab the title.\"<\/p>\n
The individual event World Championships will take place from
\nJune 4 to June 10 at the same venue as the Sudirman Cup. (nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pbsi-changes-mind-on-sudirman-cup-target-1447893297",
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