Badminton glory will be shot in the arm for RI: Wismoyo
Badminton glory will be shot in the arm for RI: Wismoyo
JAKARTA (JP): A triumph in both the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup
badminton team championships will give the nation the impetus it
needs to emerge from its worst economic turmoil ever, National
Sports Council Chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar believes.
Wismoyo, speaking after installing new executives of the
Indonesian Fencing Association here yesterday, said the public
was seeking international prestige to make up for their
suffering.
"In this spell of adversity, sports glory has become one of
achievements worth searching for to regain the nation's fighting
spirit, prestige and self confidence," Wismoyo was quoted as
saying by Antara.
"Let's show the people we can do our best for the nation's
sake by winning the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup," he added.
Indonesia, winner of the Thomas Cup for men a record 10 times
and the Uber Cup for women three times, will defend the symbols
of world badminton supremacy in Hong Kong next month.
In the Thomas Cup, Indonesia is grouped with Malaysia, South
Korea and the Netherlands. The women's competition draw placed
Indonesia in the same group with South Korea, the Netherlands and
England.
The national teams are now playing simulation matches in
Denpasar, Bali. Former world men's singles champion Hariyanto
Arbi and Budi Santosa, both likely to be Indonesia's best hopes
in the Thomas Cup, have been forced to skip the warm-up games due
to injury.
With one month left before the finals, Indonesia has yet to
announce the lineup of its teams.
Wismoyo also promised national shuttlers that he would request
a special exemption for them from the departure tax of Rp 1
million which is imposed on citizens leaving the country by air.
"I will discuss this matter with (Minister of Finance) Pak
Fuad (Bawazier)," Wismoyo said.
The government has said previously it would allow exemptions
for athletes competing in multievent competitions, such as the
Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and Olympics. (amd)