Shuttlers prioritize the Olympics, not PON<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Veteran shuttler Rexy Mainaky said Tuesday he
\nwould put aside his desire to perform in the 15th National Games
\n(PON) in Surabaya in June for the country's bigger priority to
\nretain the gold medal tradition in badminton at the Olympic Games
\nin Sydney in September.<\/p>\n
\"I personally still want to compete in PON but the Badminton
\nAssociation of Indonesia (PBSI) has decided to ban Olympic
\nqualifiers from playing in the event. We must obey the decision,\"
\nsaid the 1996 Olympics gold medalists with partner Ricky Subagja.<\/p>\n
Tony Gunawan, the world number one pair with Candra, said the
\nOlympics remained the top priority in his program although he
\npersonally wants to compete in PON from June 19 to June 30.<\/p>\n
\"Competing in PON feels different compared to the Grand Prix
\nseries as we are facing our compatriots and have nothing to lose.
\nIn the series, we are not allowed to lose to other countries'
\ndoubles. Besides it's for our province's pride,\" said Tony, who
\nis from East Java.<\/p>\n
While women's singles Ellen Angelina, representing Central
\nJava, said she opted to prioritize the Olympics above PON.<\/p>\n
\"It's OK for me to skip PON as I have more time to prepare
\nmyself for the remaining Grand Prix series and the Olympics.\"<\/p>\n
Women's doubles specialist Cynthia Tuwankotta, who represents
\nJakarta, said: \"Actually I want to play in PON. However, the ban
\nis for our benefit to enable us prepare better for the Olympics.\"<\/p>\n
Rexy said PON would be more interesting if all national
\nshuttlers could perform because the public want to see their
\nidols on courts.<\/p>\n
\"But the decision has been made. I don't want to blame the
\nWest Java chapter for registering the Olympic qualifiers to PON
\nbut what about other provincial chapters?\"<\/p>\n
\"If East Java, which has one gold medal in hand from mixed
\ndoubles Tri Kusheryanto and Minarti Timur, can put aside its own
\nbenefit due to the Olympics priority, why can't West Java?\"<\/p>\n
On Monday, chairman of the PBSI West Java chapter Lutfi Hamid
\nquestioned the decision to ban the athletes from competing in
\nPON.<\/p>\n
He insisted that participation in PON would not disturb the
\nshuttlers preparation for the Olympics and PBSI officials must
\nnot worry about the possibility shuttlers might get injured
\nduring the quadrennial event.<\/p>\n
West Java registered Ricky, Rexy, Candra Wijaya, Halim
\nHeryanto, Flandy Limpele, Marlev Mainaky, George Rimarcdi and
\nTaufik Hidayat in the men's side and Emma Ermawati, Elysa
\nNathanael, Indarti Issoliana, Yuli Marfuah and Lidya
\nDjaelawidjaja in the women's side. Eight of them are Olympic
\nqualifiers.<\/p>\n
Rexy also expressed concern over the possibility of protests
\nfrom other chapters due to the West Java chapter action.<\/p>\n
\"I'm afraid other chapters will protest our participation in
\nPON while they did not register their Olympic qualifiers. If the
\nprotest remains on PBSI it's OK. But what about the public who
\nwill feel disappointed. They may do something that might damage
\nthe image of sports,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Tony rejected the possibility that competing in PON could
\ndisturb his training program.<\/p>\n
\"PON will definitely not disturb our preparation for three big
\ntournaments of the Indonesia Open, Malaysia Open and Singapore
\nOpen prior to the Olympics,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The more competition we have the better for us to reach our
\npeak prior to the Olympics.\"<\/p>\n
Rexy expressed concern that PON should be the perfect event to
\nboost young shuttlers performance in a multi-sports event.<\/p>\n
\"If they can handle the pressure of competing in PON, then
\nPBSI has more stock to field players in a higher level including
\nthe Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games and the Olympics.\"
\n(yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/shuttlers-prioritize-the-olympics-not-pon-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}