Badminton body faces problems over PON
JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) will strive to retain the gold medal tradition in badminton in the Olympic Games in Sydney this September.
However, the path to reach this goal will be challenged by its provincial chapters, which aim to win gold medals in the upcoming 15th National Games (PON) in Surabaya from June 19 to June 30.
Chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) West Java chapter Lutfi Hamid said in a letter to PBSI officials, dated May 29, 2000, that the province would insist on including 1996 Olympic gold medalists Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky in its contingent.
"We just received a letter from PBSI today, which was late as the closing date for registration was on May 1. The letter includes 19 names, of which eight are from West Java," he said.
"If the officials are worried that athletes might suffer an injury during PON, the West Java chapter had staged a discussion on May 15 in Bandung on the matter above. The conclusion was competing in PON will not interrupt the Olympics training program and will not injure athletes."
Lutfi said the competitiveness surrounding national badminton was established due to the participation of national shuttlers in PON.
"I think some people are very jealous of the West Java shuttlers' success in the 1993 and 1996 PON where we won four of the seven golds at stake."
Late last year, PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo had called on the chapters not to send shuttlers who qualify for the Olympics to compete in PON due to their tight preparation schedule to accomplish their goals.
PBSI has qualified Hendrawan, Taufik Hidayat and Marlev Mainaky in the men's singles; Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan, Ricky and Rexy, Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian in the men's doubles; Tri Kusheryanto and Minarti Timur, Bambang Suprianto and Zelin Resiana in the mixed doubles and Elysa Nathanael and Deyana Lomban, Etty Tantri and Cynthia Tuwankotta in the women's doubles.
The association has targeted to bring home another gold medal in the men's singles and doubles. Indonesia won two golds in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona since badminton was fielded for the first time. In 1996, Indonesia retained the tradition of netting gold medals with Ricky and Rexy.
KONI vice chairman Arie Sudewo, who is also in charge as the Olympics training director, said KONI would stick to the commitment made by sports associations, including PBSI.
"If they have decided not to allow their athletes to compete in PON, they must commit to it. Don't change their decision just weeks prior to the event, or I will disagree," he said.
Several sports organizations, which athletes qualify for the Olympics, include PON in their training program as a preparation for the Olympics. The sport events include track and field, swimming and archery in the FITA round only.
"Boxing and judo categories have planned to include their athletes but they changed their mind. Our boxers are undergoing an overseas stint in Cuba during PON while the judo association opts to send two judokas to the Netherlands for the stint," Arie said.
Arie said KONI would not allow athletes to have competitions eight weeks prior to the Olympics.
"It's too risky to allow them to participate in a competition, especially at the international level, less than eight weeks before the Olympics. I'm afraid they would not be able to reach their peak performance."
National shuttlers still have a chance to compete in the Indonesia Open from July 19 to July 23 and one of the three remaining circuits of the Malaysia Open, Thailand Open and Singapore Open. (yan)