Badminton director calls for training evaluation
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 Uber Cup 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.