Benny gets red card from Davis Cup match
Benny gets red card from Davis Cup match
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's number one Benny Wijaya has been
sidelined for the Davis Cup qualifying round match against South
Korea in Seoul next week, giving away his place to debutant Teddy
Tanjung.
Chairman of the Indonesian Tennis Association Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja told reporters on Wednesday night that Benny did
not deserve the Asia Oceania Group One tie for "not showing
commitment to national interest."
"We need a player who consistently devotes himself to his
country without reservation. There are only yes or no answers for
those who are called up for events in which national pride is at
stake," Sarwono said in a rare emotion-charged tone.
Benny, a Davis Cupper since 1990, signed a three year deal
worth US$250,000 with a Taiwanese club last year. He said after
his first-round exit from the Indonesia Men's Open two weeks ago
that he was eager to play the classic Davis Cup duel against the
South Koreans.
Non-playing captain and coach Wailan Walalangi has also picked
seasoned young prodigies Suwandi, Donny Susetyo and Bonit
Wiryawan to complete the team's lineup.
"Benny thinks about his club first. We have no doubts about
dropping him from the team," Wailan said. Citing an example,
Wailan said Benny had to ask his coach for permission before
deciding to don national colors.
Wailan denied that his squad has a dim chance of winning
without Benny. "We never rely on a certain player. The Davis Cup
is a team game," he said.
Wailan, former national player who powered Indonesia into the
Davis Cup World Group match in 1986, found a technical reason for
his decision to sideline Benny. "He did not train for the past
two months," said Wailan.
South Korea has made a slight change to its squad which lost
2-3 to a Benny-led team here last year. New face Lee Hyung-taik,
who beat Suwandi in Hiroshima's Asian Games last October, will
join veterans Yoon Yong-il, Chang Eui-jong and Kim Chi-wan.
The national team has been prepared for the Feb. 3-5 duel at
the air-conditioned Senayan indoor tennis stadium. The five-
rubber best-of-five tie will be played on artificial turf.
"Chilly weather is the toughest hurdle, apart from South
Korean's fanatic crowd," Wailan said. The temperature in Seoul is
reportedly between 0 and -10 Celsius.
Indonesia leads South Korea 4-3 in their Davis Cup long
rivalry dating back from the early 1970s, with each winning its
home matches. "This time we are poised to break the jinx,"
Sarwono vowed.
The national squad will leave for Seoul on Sunday, in an
attempt to get used to the unfriendly weather. (amd)