Former top badminton players to help groom their juniors
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)