Female shuttlers told to prove their mettle

Female shuttlers told to prove their mettle

JAKARTA (JP): Mixed doubles specialist Tri Kusheryanto urged
his female teammates to prove their skills in the upcoming
Sudirman Cup so as to quell the mounting criticism of their poor
achievements over the last two years.

"I hope the women shuttlers will see the positive side of the
criticism by working harder to achieve better results. Otherwise
they will crack and get frustrated," he said after a training
session on Thursday at the Indonesian Badminton Center in
Cipayung, East Jakarta.

"All the players have agreed to help our female teammates with
their day-to-day training by becoming their practice partners."

Tri, who took the 2000 Olympics silver medal with Minarti
Timur, said the women shuttlers still had a chance to contribute
one or two points in the mixed team biennial event at San Pablo
Stadium from May 28 to June 3.

"Who knows, maybe our best players in the men's singles, men's
doubles or mixed doubles will be beaten and the women's singles
or doubles could make up for it instead. Anything can happen
there."

"Our women players have similar skills to those of other
countries, but it is up to them to put up a fight at the event to
prove their quality.

Following the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)'s
decision to revised its target for the event from reaching the
semifinals to winning the cup, the players have been newly
motivated to give their all.

"Our motivation was boosted after the officials revised the
target to retake the cup instead of just reaching the semifinals,
which was not a target at all," Tri said.

"We have all set our minds on the Sudirman Cup and will do our
best to take the title. Winning or losing is not a big issue as
long as we do our best."

"As the cup bears the name of an Indonesian badminton hero, we
must bring it back."

Men's doubles player Sigit Budiarto, who just won the Japan
Open title with partner Candra Wijaya, called on the officials to
develop a more comfortable atmosphere to enable the shuttlers to
focus on their training.

"Officials should spend more time with us and getting involved
in our activities. They could also create a little diversion from
the daily routine so as to make us all feel a little bit
fresher," he said.

Sigit was referring to a lunch outing for the team members on
Tuesday after visiting Sudirman's grave at the Tanah Kusir
Cemetery in South Jakarta. Sudirman was former PBSI chairman and
deputy chairman of the International Badminton Federation, whose
name is taken for the event.

A new training atmosphere was to seen at the center as junior
shuttlers gave a helping hand to the seniors by drilling the
seniors shots in three-on-one games.

Usually the seniors and juniors have different training
schedules but the juniors were willing to help the seniors due to
the lofty target of bringing home the Sudirman Cup.

"Seeing our juniors trying to help us by becoming our practice
partners really boosted our motivation to give our best shots at
the event," Tri said.

The PBSI official in charge of athletes development, Mangombar
Ferdinand Siregar, said it would be a game of strategy to bring
the title home.

"Each participating country will enlist its shuttlers and
field those deemed suitable for each match. Therefore, our
coaches and officials must be able to predict which shuttlers
will play against ours. But we must remember it is only an
estimation."

The Indonesian contingent is expected to meet President
Abdurrahman Wahid sometime next week before their departure next
Wednesday.

"The Presidential Secretariat officials asked the PBSI to
confirm the schedule next Monday. I hope we can meet the
president next Tuesday," said Siregar. (nvn)