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)