Ardy Wiranata resigns from badminton center

JAKARTA (JP): Ardy Bernardus Wiranata, who joined Indonesia's Thomas Cup squad five times, has finally resigned from the Badminton Training Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.

Ardy sent his letter of resignation to the Badminton Association of Indonesia chairman, Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, and the association's athletes development deputy, Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar, on Friday.

"I resign not because the association will hold a decentralized training for old hands but because I have thought about this for a long time," said Ardy at the center.

Ardy said he felt he was no longer able to compete in international events for the country. He also hoped his juniors would be able to achieve better than he did.

"Sometimes people are on top but sometimes they are at the bottom. I have to deal with it," he said.

Siregar said yesterday Ardy's resignation was a mature decision given his stagnant career recently.

"He chose to develop his career in another place," he said.

Ardy plans to study in the United States and become a coach there.

"I'll continue my studies in the United States and will play as a sparring partner," said the 27-year-old shuttler who is registered as a student at the School of Economy at Tarumanegara University.

Siregar said Ardy was a disciplined shuttler who had the potential to become a coaching assistant.

But Ardy said: "It's not easy to become an assistant coach and I don't want to be."

Ardy's father Leo Ch. Wiranata, the association's secretary- general, said he never forced Ardy to stop playing.

"Maybe Ardy thinks it's better for him to resign than be discharged from the center. It's better if Ardy wants to be a sparring partner for his juniors," he said.

Men's singles coach Indra Gunawan complimented Ardy on his resignation.

"It means he doesn't want to do things half-heartedly. His position as a senior player is difficult. If he can't deal with it why should he stay," Indra said.

"I have to give him credit for his decision although we'll miss him as a highly motivated shuttler," he said.

Ardy won the 1992 Olympic silver in Barcelona and 16 Grand Prix titles, including six Indonesian Open titles from 1990 to 1997. He joined the country's Thomas Cup squad in 1994 and 1996 when Indonesia brought home the Cup.

The association's athletes development department moved forward its plan to consolidate from three months to one and a half months, Antara reported.

The first thing Siregar has to do is reduce the number of shuttlers at the center and decentralize training centers.

Siregar said the association planned to hire veteran shuttlers, including Joko Suprianto, as an assistant coach at the center.

He said Joko's presence at the center would encourage juniors' to practice harder and Joko could be a nonplaying captain in an international team event. (yan)