Coach claims team shuttlers need help from experts

By Primastuti Handayani

COPENHAGEN (JP): Going home empty-handed after 14 days of struggling in the Sudirman Cup and World Championships has made head coach Christian Hadinata determined to find a better way to groom shuttlers for the Thomas and Uber Cups and the Olympic Games next year.

Indonesia must involve more experts in psychology, physical training, nutrition and in the field of medicine, he said.

"The main problem in our failure here was our preparation, which was not supported by experts. We only involved physical trainer Tahir Djide three weeks before the championships."

"This is the best we can do in tournaments with very limited preparation. It took shock therapy to learn that we have lots of weaknesses."

Christian said national shuttlers could not handle the pressure during critical points in either tournament.

"They need more motivation and consistency. They were really up and down. The athletes rely on their coaches to motivate them."

Shuttlers need a full-time expert at the National Training Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta. Even world number three women's singles Camilla Martin of Denmark and All England mixed doubles specialist Simon Archer of England discuss their problems with their psychologists.

"A sports psychologist is needed to overcome the pressure and their mental barriers. We only need the help to build their character to become tough athletes that never give up easily."

"The psychologist has to be a full-timer so as to understand the athletes' characteristics and personalities."

The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has been helped by Singgih Dirga Gunarsa, a professor of pschology at Tarumanegara University. But due to other commitments, he is unable to meet the shuttlers often.

Shuttlers also need a permanent physical trainer for long-term training.

Christian said he hoped PBSI would support his idea.

"With our total failure in the championships, I hope top officials will support my idea if we want to retain the Thomas Cup and the Olympic gold in men's doubles next year."

For the first time in Indonesian badminton history, none of the national shuttlers reached the semifinals in this month's championships since it was first staged in Malmo, Sweden, in 1977.

Potential

The former doubles specialist named several shuttlers, including men's singles Hendrawan, women's singles Cindana and men's doubles of Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan, as potential athletes for intense training.

"We must be able to train them better and improve their natural talents to reach international standards."

Christian also mentioned a lack of sports science and technology as a barrier for coaches to improve their skills.

"Based on the last results here, we may say that our coaches' capacities are far from enough. Technically, they must be able to analyze every opponent's style of playing."

He also complimented young coaches, including men's singles coaches Agus Dwi Santoso and Mulyo Handoyo, men's doubles coach Herry Imam Pierngadi, for always evaluating their athletes' form and analyzing opponents' technics.

"But athletes must also be able to analyze the match by themselves. On court, they should not be confused by any situation."

However, Christian expressed optimism that the men's team would be able to retain the Thomas Cup and the Olympics men's doubles gold medal.

"With the men's team, we have equal chances in the singles and doubles. It's quite different with the Sudirman Cup where our women's side was so weak and lost us two points."

Christian said he wanted the younger shuttlers, who would be admitted to the center, to have a new coach who would be expected to coach them based on the above ideals.