ABC to recommend eight shuttlers for SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): The Asian Badminton Confederation (ABC) finally gave its recommendation to the Badminton Association of Indonesia to name eight shuttlers for the 19th SEA Games, which are to be held here in October.

The association's secretary-general, RAJ Gosal, said on Thursday that the confederation, in its letter signed by the chairman, Punch Gunalan, agreed with the association's demand.

A SEA Games executive council meeting agreed that each country's team can only have seven shuttlers in its men's or women's teams.

Indonesia objected to the decision, saying that the previous Games always featured eight shuttlers.

Gosal told Antara that the association must discuss the new decision with the Games organizers and other participating countries. He is to fly to Kuala Lumpur on Sept. 1 to meet other countries.

"With the agreement from other participating countries, we hope the organizers agree with our wish," he said.

The association expected to have eight shuttlers, instead of seven, because it did not want any shuttlers to play twice in one match.

Meanwhile, coach Indra Gunawan expected the association to keep three men's singles in the team.

"I'll be very upset if we lose to Malaysia in the team event," he told Kompas.

Indra said Indonesia can win the men's doubles event but in the singles, it has to feature experienced shuttlers.

He said Indonesia's young hope, Indra Wijaya, still could not give his best performance in international events.

"So far, Indra has always been playing as the giant killer. In the Asia Cup here earlier this year, Indra was the country's best hope and he did it. He has beaten some world best players but he has yet to beat unseeded players," he said.

"We should not forget that the team's event was very prestigious in badminton at the Games. And Malaysia is highly- motivated and will be our toughest rival," he added.

He said if Malaysia features Rashid Sidek, who has just recovered from an injury, in the first singles, it will also feature Ong Ewe Hock, who recently beat Hariyanto Arbi in the World Cup badminton championship in Yogyakarta, and young shuttler Yong Hock Kin.

Universiade

In Sicily, Italy, Indonesia's swimming team manager Kristiono Sumono told Antara that the results of the Universiade (Students' Games) could not be used to measure the real power of the country's team.

"How can we use Universiade as a gauge to measure our swimmers if the organizers aren't ready to host the event," he complained.

Kristiono said the organizers have accommodated Indonesia's swimmers at the Silvanetta Palace, Milazzo, while the venue is located in Messina, at the north of the Sicily island.

"We need 40 minutes to get from the hotel to the pool. The swimmers are tired by the time they reach the pool and have no chance to warm up," he said.

Indonesian swimmers could not focus their attention on the competition and failed to reach their personal bests. (yan)