RI shuttlers set to make clean sweep at SEAG<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will strive hard to make a clean sweep
\nof the seven gold medals up for grabs in the badminton tournament
\nat next year's 19th SEA Games.<\/p>\n
At the last two Games, in Singapore in 1993 and Chiang Mai,
\nThailand, last year, the Indonesian shuttlers swept up six of the
\nseven golds at stake, only missing out on the men's doubles
\ntitle, which, on those two occasions, went to Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\"We lost in both men's doubles finals to Malaysia. But next
\nyear, there is no way Malaysia can steal one gold from us,\"
\nnational coach Indra Gunawan said yesterday.<\/p>\n
In Chiang Mai, Indonesia's formidable men's doubles tandem of
\nRexy Mainaky and Ricky Subagya went down to Malaysia's Cheang
\nSoon Kit and Yap Kim Hock. In Singapore, once again it was Soon
\nKit partnering with Soo Beng Kiang who prevented Indonesia from
\nsweeping all seven titles by beating Ricky and Rexy in a nerve-
\ntingling final.<\/p>\n
However, Indra expressed concern about the fading performances
\nof the country's top men's singles players.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot continue to bank on such old warriors as Joko
\nSupriyanto, Ardy Wiranata, Heryanto Arbi or Alan Budikusuma all
\nthe time because their performances have begun to decline due to
\nage.<\/p>\n
\"But we have a set of younger players capable of taking over
\nthe baton from their seniors. So, in all probability, our SEA
\nGames squad will be a mixture of experience and youth,\" he said<\/p>\n
Indra said the Badminton Association of Indonesia always
\nstressed the important need of regeneration process of players.<\/p>\n
\"So, if some national players are already past their prime,
\ntheir juniors are ready to take over the mantle.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesia is grooming 16 men's and eight women's shuttlers for
\nthe next SEA Games, which will be held in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Indra said some of the players would be fielded in two
\ninternational invitationals, the Grand Prix Finals in Denpasar,
\nBali, and the World Cup in Jakarta. Both are to be held next
\nmonth. (bas)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-shuttlers-set-to-make-clean-sweep-at-seag-1447893297",
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