Uber Cup squad still has time to improve its skills: Manager<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Uber Cup women's badminton team have yet to reach
\nits peak performance prior to the qualifying round on Feb. 20-24
\nin Melbourne, Australia.<\/p>\n
The shuttlers are focusing their training to recover their
\nphysical fitness and skills.<\/p>\n
The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has named ten
\nshuttlers to grab a place in the finals rounds in May in
\nGuangzhou, China.<\/p>\n
The shuttlers are singles shuttlers Lidya Djaelawidjaja, Atu
\nRosalina, Ellen Angelina and Dian Novita Sari.<\/p>\n
The doubles shuttlers are Deyana Lomban, Emma Ermawati, Eny
\nErlangga, Jo Novita, Minarti Timur and Vita Marissa.<\/p>\n
"We don't want to force them suddenly after a long break. We
\nare concentrating on recovering their stamina first," Uber Cup
\nteam manager Rusdi Jacob told reporters on Friday.<\/p>\n
"We have about three weeks left before we leave for Melbourne
\nto polish their skills."<\/p>\n
Rusdi was speaking on the sidelines of a warm-up series of
\nmatches at the Bung Karno Badminton Hall. Divided into two teams,
\nRajawali and Garuda, the shuttlers were playing in an order which
\nwill be used in the Uber Cup matches.<\/p>\n
The shuttlers were mixed with other Uber candidates in the
\nwarm-up matches to form a team.<\/p>\n
Defying her right shoulder injury, Lidya beat her junior Dewi
\nTira Arisandi 8-6, 7-4, 8-6 in the first match to give Rajawali
\nits early lead.<\/p>\n
It was clear that Lidya failed to use her extensive experience
\nand take advantage of Dewi's careless placement.<\/p>\n
"I could not send my smashes because it is still hurt. I am
\nstill recovering from the injury," Lidya said after the match.<\/p>\n
In the second match, doubles pair of veterans Deyana and
\nMinarti were too strong for second stringers Vita and Eny of the
\nRajawali team.<\/p>\n
Deyana and Minarti did not have much trouble while handing out
\na 7-0, 7-2, 7-0 thrashing that gave the Garuda team the
\nequalizer.<\/p>\n
Ellen extended Garuda's lead by defeating Yuli Marfuah 7-3, 4-
\n7, 7-5, 7-3.<\/p>\n
Earlier, PBSI chairman Chairul Tanjung told the Uber Cup team
\nto give their best performance in Melbourne.<\/p>\n
"Although we seldom win the Cup, our team always takes part in
\nthe finals rounds. This is indeed a heavy burden for you to grab
\na place in the finals rounds," he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's female squad is currently plagued by injuries
\namong its veteran shuttlers while the second stringers and
\njuniors are not quite up to their seniors' skills.<\/p>",
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