Former top badminton players to help groom their juniors
JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia is inviting the sport's former national greats to become involved in an ambitious athletic development program, a top association official said.
The association's athletic development deputy, Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar, said over the weekend: "I've met some former top shuttlers and I'm glad they want to help Indonesian badminton regain world supremacy."
He said he had talked to former national players such as Ferry Sonneville, Icuk Sugiarto, Minarni, Ivana Lie, Ade Chandra, Tan Joe Hock, Hadi Nasri and Christian Hadinata.
Ferry was a member of the country's Thomas Cup team in 1957 and the All England champion in the late 1950s. Icuk was the 1983 World Champion, and Ade and Christian were formerly world number one's in the men's doubles.
Siregar said Ferry suggested setting up an informal organization of former top players which would hold regular meetings.
"The informal group is expected to regularly meet the organization's officials to help us train the juniors.
"The former shuttlers are also an investment. We'll ask them to help improve young shuttlers' technical skills and, especially, their mental attitudes.
"The young shuttlers will learn a lot if the former top players share their experiences with them, especially their experiences in handling problems at international events," Siregar said.
He said those who had contributed to making Indonesia great in badminton should not be abandoned but should be asked to help maintain the sport.
Joko Suprianto
Siregar said he also had another role in mind for Indonesia's Joko Suprianto, the 32-year-old shuttler who lost to a Malaysian newcomer in the first leg of the Japan Open early this week.
"I that hope next week, when he returns home from Japan, I can talk privately with Joko to discuss this other role, aside from his role as a player."
Siregar said Joko and his senior teammates, including Alan Budikusuma, Hermawan Susanto and Ardy B. Wiranata, could help at the Badminton Training Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.
"They could be sparring partners for younger shuttlers or be assistant coaches. They could still also compete in international events at their own expense or get financial assistance from the association," he said, as quoted by Antara.
"Starting this month, we'll begin special training programs to improve each shuttler's special style," he added.
Siregar said the training was aimed at preparing players for the Thomas and Uber Cup championships in Hong Kong in May, and the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in December.
"We aim to win the Thomas and Uber Cup championships and the Asiad. We also aim to prepare our juniors for the World Championships and the Sudirman Cup in 1999, and the Thomas and Uber Cup championships and the Olympic Games in 2000," he said. (yan)