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)