Badminton director calls for training evaluation
Eva C. Komandjaja Jakarta
Taufik Hidayat and Sony Dwi Kuncoro are the latest Indonesian victims at the Malaysian Open, prompting the national training director to say the program needed to be evaluated.
Taufik and Sony, who entered the tournament as the Asian championship finalists, were shut out of the tournament late on Thursday following the exit of their female compatriots.
Taufik was brought down 13-15, 15-9, 15-8 by Ronald Susilo of Hong Kong while Sony went down to South Korea's Park Sung-hwan 15-10, 15-10.
Earlier in the day Silvi Antarini, Maria Kristin and Firdasari had to pack for home, adding to the woes they suffered from their failure in the Thomas and Uber Cups in Jakarta in May.
National training director Christian Hadinata said the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) would need to evaluate the training program with a short-term view of preserving Indonesia's medal chances at the upcoming Olympics.
"There are still many weaknesses right now," Christian said after preparing for a PBSI extraordinary meeting.
The extraordinary meeting will be held in Jakarta on July 17. At the meeting, the PBSI will convene to replace incumbent chairman Chaerul Tanjung, who has been forced to curtail his term after criticism of his chairmanship.
While Chairul's replacement is expected to improve Indonesian badminton in the longer term, most national representatives were still struggling in Malaysia.
Christian said the PBSI would have to give more opportunities to inexperienced-but-talented shuttlers like new doubles team Markis Kidho and Hendra Setiawan, who did well in Malaysia to defeat second seeds Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng of China 17-16, 15-13.
Markis and Hendra will play compatriots Luluk Hadiyanto Alven Yulianto, the 15-12, 15-10 winners over the England-New Zealand pairing of Robert Blair and Daniel Shirley, in the quarterfinals.
In the women's doubles, only Greysia Polii and Lilyana Natsir advanced to a quarterfinal berth, with a 15-5, 15-8 win over English pair Gail Emms and Donna Kellogg.
Jo Novita and Lita Nurlita were sent home by Danish pair Mette Schjoldager and Pernille Harder, losing 15-12, 15-7.
Nova Widhianto and Vita Marissa are Indonesia's contenders in the mixed doubles. They will face the fourth seeds, Thai pair Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongkam, in the quarterfinals after defeating the Danish duo, Thomas Laybourn and Pernille Harder, 15-5, 15-2.