Tony asked to rejoin Thomas Cup team<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has given Sydney
\n2000 Olympics gold medalist Tony Gunawan until the end of this
\nmonth to make up his mind whether or not to rejoin the national
\nteam for the Thomas Cup finals in May.<\/p>\n
Tony, who grabbed the men's doubles gold medals with Candra
\nWijaya, resigned from the Indonesian Badminton Center (PBI) last
\nOctober due to school commitments. He is also planning to marry
\nEtty Tantri, a former national shuttler.<\/p>\n
"Although we have plenty of men's doubles players with equal
\nskills and strength, Tony's presence in the Thomas Cup will
\nsurely boost our chances to defend the Cup," PBSI chairman
\nChairul Tanjung said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is grooming Bambang Suprianto, Candra, Halim
\nHeryanto, Sigit Budiarto and Tri Kusheryanto for the biennial
\nworld men's team championship. The doubles specialists can change
\npartner among them with equal strength, according to Chairul.<\/p>\n
Chairul, however, said the decision was up to Tony "who knows
\nwhat is best for his future."<\/p>\n
"We can't wait forever and have given him until late this
\nmonth to make a decision."<\/p>\n
PBSI has also summoned three other players who have quit the
\nnational team for the Thomas Cup and its co-featuring Uber Cup
\nwomen's tournament. Men's singles Taufik Hidayat and women's
\nsingles players Ellen Angelina and Yuli Marfuah regrouped with
\ntheir old mates in early December.<\/p>\n
If Tony's presence is a morale booster, Taufik will be
\nexpected to earn Indonesia a crucial point for the country's
\nThomas Cup squad.<\/p>\n
"We still have the strongest men's doubles pairs but are shaky
\nin the men's singles. Taufik is expected to cover the weak
\nfield," said Chairul.<\/p>\n
"Taufik has been absent in some major tournaments causing his
\nworld rank to drop significantly. He will be the most suitable
\ncandidate for the third singles match."<\/p>\n
The Thomas Cup and Uber Cup are played in a format of three
\nsingles matches and two doubles matches.<\/p>\n
Chairul revealed a similar strategy has been designed for the
\nUber Cup team, which will hold its semifinals round from Feb. 20
\nto Feb. 24 in Melbourne, Australia.<\/p>\n
"We expect Ellen to steal a point in her position as the third
\nsingles player."<\/p>\n
Indonesia last won the Uber Cup in 1996 after defeating China
\nin Hong Kong. China recaptured the Cup in 1998 and defended it in
\n2000.<\/p>\n
As the reigning Thomas Cup champion, Indonesia automatically
\nqualifies for the finals to be held in Guangzhou, China.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Chairul said Taufik was free to move to Singapore
\nafter the Thomas Cup, as long as he meets all the requirements.<\/p>\n
"A shuttler must obtain approval from their club and also from
\nPBSI's branch and chapter, which oversees the club, before
\nleaving," he said.<\/p>\n
"PBSI will not give clearance without such recommendations."<\/p>\n
Emphasizing that PBSI could no longer prevent its shuttlers
\nfrom moving, he said the badminton body deserved some
\ncompensation.<\/p>\n
"It's just like in soccer, where players and clubs receive a
\ncertain amount of the transfer fee. We still have to amend the
\nregulations on this matter," he said.<\/p>",
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