Total overhaul demanded to revive badminton pride<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A total overhaul in the training of Indonesian
\nbadminton players is crucial if they are to win gold medals in
\nthe 25th Olympic Games in Atlanta, noted sports observer
\nMangombar Ferdinand Siregar believes.<\/p>\n
The former training director of the Badminton Association of
\nIndonesia spoke up yesterday after learning about the departure
\nof all five Indonesian men's singles competitors before the
\nsemifinals of the All England championships currently underway in
\nBirmingham.<\/p>\n
Siregar, who claims to be an insider of the badminton body,
\nsaid that uncommunicated problems between coaches or team
\nmanagers and players might have contributed to the current
\nsetback, which is the worst performance ever by Indonesian
\nshuttlers in badminton history.<\/p>\n
The five are top seed and former world champion Joko
\nSuprianto, world champion Hariyanto Arbi, Barcelona Olympic gold
\nmedalist Alan Budikusuma, former world silver medalist Hermawan
\nSusanto, and 1992 winner Ardy Wiranata.<\/p>\n
To add insult to injury, Uber Cup heroine Mia Audina also went
\ndown 0-11, 12-10, 11-1 to little known Chinese player Dai Yun,
\nleaving Susi Susanti as the only Indonesian survivor in the
\nwomen's singles.<\/p>\n
\"These results leave me at a loss as to what we should do in
\norder to secure the men's singles gold medal in Atlanta,\" Siregar
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"I believe that our mixed doubles as well as our world number
\none men's pair of Rexy Mainaky and Ricky Subagja can make it in
\nAtlanta. But our chance in the women's doubles looks dim while in
\nthe women's singles we will depend entirely on Susi and Mia.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesia swept the two singles gold medals in Barcelona
\nthrough Alan and Susi.<\/p>\n
Siregar blamed the badminton body for not treating injured
\nplayers properly.<\/p>\n
\"I heard Mia complaining of 'strange sounds' from her injured
\nthigh. But her coach and doctor said she was okay and was ready
\nfor the All England,\" the 68-year-old observer said.<\/p>\n
He said that Hariyanto is another Indonesian player
\nsusceptible to injury. On Thursday, he crashed to South Korean
\nPark Sung-woo, who has just recovered from a torn Achilles
\ntendon.<\/p>\n
\"I wonder if Hariyanto has fully recovered from his injury?\"
\nSiregar queried.<\/p>\n
Discipline<\/p>\n
Siregar said the shuttlers need more personal disciplinary
\nmeasures which their supervisors do not seem to care about. \"Have
\nthey ever controlled what time they go to bed so that they can
\nwake up fully refreshed for another day's workout? What about
\nfood? Who cares whether or not they need food supplements?\"<\/p>\n
Supervisors should be careful not to give players the
\nimpression they are just machines exploited to produce gold
\nmedals, said Siregar, also project manager of the Indonesian team
\nfor the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.<\/p>\n
He also surmised that national players have become bored with
\ntheir regular life at their training center in Cilangkap, East
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I don't exactly know what caused the ennui. But the players
\nhave been training there for years. They just train and train.
\nThere's no recreation and no efforts to refresh the situation.\"<\/p>\n
Siregar also noted that there are what he calls \"natural
\nproblems\" such as more commitment to spouses and the future
\nrather than to rigorous training.<\/p>\n
\"I will not be surprised if Susi has begun thinking of
\nmarriage and making a living and thus, can no longer fully
\nconcentrate on her badminton career,\" he said. (arf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/total-overhaul-demanded-to-revive-badminton-pride-1447893297",
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