Badminton team to be set up for better results

Badminton team to be set up for better results

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia will set
up a special team as part of its efforts to increase national
shuttlers' international achievements.

The association's Hadi Nasri said yesterday the team would be
chaired by badminton maestro and eight time All England champion
Rudi Hartono.

Hartono, after a thorough study, will recommend athletes to
compete in championships.

"The team will consist of sports experts, psychologists,
coaches and officials. It is authorized to observe athletes'
skills but not to be a talent scouting agency and its decision
must not challenge the association's decision," he said.

"The most important thing the team has to refer to is the
association's program for the 2000 Olympics," he said.

The association aims to improve its recent bad record at
international events. Indonesia has only collected a few major
titles this year.

In Chinese Taipei, only men's doubles Chandra Wijaya/Sigit
Budiarto and mixed doubles Sandiarto/Finarsih won titles in
January.

In the same month, Mia Audina took the women's singles title
and Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky won the men's doubles at the Japan
Open.

Indonesia failed to win a title at the All England
championship in March.

In May, national shuttlers also failed to win the Sudirman Cup
in Glasgow. They only won the men's doubles when Chandra/Sigit
beat Malaysians Cheah Soon Kit/Yap Kim Hock.

"We can't say that this year we are declining completely.
We're improving in men's doubles," Hadi said.

He said the team would have to set up training regulations
including a promotion and relegation system and the balance of
physical, technical and mental training.

Changes

The association's chairman, Surjadi, expects changes in the
management of the National Badminton Center in Cipayung, East
Jakarta.

"The chairman urged the officials to increase activity at the
center and dormitory. He also expects coaches to have better
relationships with their athletes to improve their performance,"
Hadi said.

The association will also re-group all shuttlers at the
center.

"We'll divide them based on their events and coaches. We'll
also change some schedules to improve training methods," Hadi
said.

The association's technical coordinator Christian Hadinata
said changing schedules was to train athletes to deal with
problems on court.

"For example, they must deal with the wind on the court. How's
their strategy to cope with the wind so it won't give them
problems during the match," he said.

Hadi said some shuttlers would return to their clubs, the
association's branches.

"We must discuss this matter first with the branches to see
how they will treat the athletes," he said.

"We must optimize what we have right now, starting with
shuttlers at the center," he said.

Both Christian and Hadi hope the change will produce results.

National shuttlers are preparing for the Malaysian Open in
Kuala Lumpur from July 8 to July 13. Joko Suprianto, Budi
Santoso, Salim, Taufik Hidayat, Ricky Subagja, Rexy Mainaky,
Antonius, Denny Kantono, Seng Kok Keong, Rudy Wijaya, Tri
Kusherjanto, Sandiarto and Imam Tohari will compete in the men's
side.

Susi Susanti, Meluawati, Yuli Marfuah, Nonong DZ, Carmelita,
Finarsih, Minarti Timur, Etty Tantry, Cynthia and Emma Ermawati
will compete in the women's side.

They are also expected to compete at the Indonesian Open in
Surakarta, Central Java, from July 16 to July 20. (yan)