Underdog tag motivates female shuttlers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Being an underdog in the Thomas and Uber Cup
\nchampionships in Kuala Lumpur next week has motivated Indonesia's
\nfemale shuttlers to turn the presumption upside down.<\/p>\n
\"Being an underdog makes us want to prove that it's not right.
\nWe have the chance to show our real strength in the team event,\"
\nsaid second singles Ellen Angelina, world ranked 23.<\/p>\n
\"We have trained and practiced very hard. The reason for being
\nabsent in the Japan Open was to prepare ourselves better in the
\nremaining one month.\"<\/p>\n
Teammate Lidya Djaelawidjaja shared the same view. \"The
\nBadminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) only targets us to
\nreach the semifinals but we are committed to go through to the
\nfinal,\" said the world number 21.<\/p>\n
Women's doubles player Elysa Nathanael said, \"We have prepared
\nourselves better for the Uber Cup. People can say we performed
\nbadly in individual tournaments but that won't happen in a team
\nevent.\"<\/p>\n
\"Compared to individual events, we are in top condition for
\nthe Uber Cup as we've been prepared in the last month.\"<\/p>\n
Badminton lovers said Indonesia's team had little hope in the
\nUber Cup event as the country lacked good shuttlers since the
\nretirement of 1992 Olympic gold medalist Susi Susanti and the
\n1996 Olympic silver medalist Mia Audina moved to the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo only hopes the shuttlers
\nwill reach the semifinals of the event.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is in the pink group with Japan, Denmark and
\nMalaysia, while defending champion China is in the purple group
\nwith South Korea, Sweden and the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
Former PBSI officials Ferry Sonneville and Titus Kurniadi
\nexpressed the same opinion, that Indonesian shuttlers only had a
\nslight chance to win the Uber Cup.<\/p>\n
\"It will be really difficult to bring home the Uber Cup
\nalthough we still have to do our best. However, we must not think
\nonly of the short period but for a longer term. In the future, we
\nhope our female shuttlers can fulfill our ambition to win the
\nCup,\" Ferry said during PBSI 49th anniversary ceremonies at the
\nIndonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I personally think it's very tough to win the Uber Cup
\nconsidering that China, our rival in 1998, is very dominant in
\nsingles and doubles,\" Titus said.<\/p>\n
Speaking of the first match against Japan on May 11, Lidya
\nsaid, \"Technically we are better than the Japanese but they are
\ntough players so we must play tougher.\"<\/p>\n
Lidya is expected to meet world number nine Yasuko Mizui in
\nthe first singles match.<\/p>\n
\"I have seen her playing. She's very tough so we must be very
\npatient in rallying with her. The key is not to make unforced
\nerrors during the match.\"<\/p>\n
Ellen, who is likely to meet the 1998 Asian Games gold
\nmedalist Kanako Yonekura, said she had visualized Yonekura's
\nplaying.<\/p>\n
\"I only have to improve my accuracy and speed. I have
\nadditional sessions after practice to work on those two factors.\"<\/p>\n
Elysa and Minarti Timur, a mixed doubles specialist, shared
\nthe same idea, that Japanese players were tough and always chase
\nfor the shuttlecock all over the court.<\/p>\n
\"Their strokes are not dangerous but they always chase the
\nshuttlecock anywhere,\" said Minarti, who joined the Uber Cup team
\nfor the second time.<\/p>\n
PBSI celebrated its anniversary by inviting 100 orphans to
\njoin the shuttlers in the commemoration. It will also stage
\nshadow puppet shows Saturday evening to entertain people living
\nnear the center. (yan)<\/p>",
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