Grieving Mia not ready for Sudirman Cup
Grieving Mia not ready for Sudirman Cup
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's star women's shuttler Mia Audina is
apparently not ready to compete in the Sudirman Cup and World
Championships in Copenhagen from May 10 to May 23.
Mia said in a telephone interview that she was still grieving
the death of her mother last week. Mia's mother, Lanny
Susilawati, died from a stroke, but she had been suffering from
kidney failure.
"I'm not ready for the Sudirman Cup. It's really difficult. I
just lost my mother. I'm still in mourning," Mia said.
The 19-year-old shuttler sparked controversy when she married
Surinamese Tylio Lobman in March, then shocked fans again by
saying her father abused her as a child.
The vice chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia
(PBSI), Agus Wirahadikusumah, told The Jakarta Post the
association could not force Mia to join the squad, because of her
psychological condition.
"Chairman Bapak Subagyo Hadisiswoyo said Mia's readiness was
decided by coaches' evaluations of her physical, mental and
technical condition, and also the results of two simulations," he
said.
He said Mia had asked to go to the Netherlands to calm down.
Despite poor preparation and several injured players, Agus
said Indonesia's squad was ready to compete in both competitions.
"The most important thing is we are ready to fight and I'm
ready to bring the team," said Agus, who is also the team
manager.
Separately, national women's shuttler Cindana said she was
ready for both events without Mia.
"If PBSI forces Mia to compete in her poor condition like
this, she will suffer a lot. She can't concentrate with all her
burdens, especially after her loss of her mother," Cindana said.
"Mia's absence may be best for the team. Although women's
singles have never won, we'll try our best. Who knows, we might
surprise people," said Cindana, who will likely play in the match
against China.
Meanwhile, Lidya Djaelawidjaja said she was pessimistic about
the team's chances without Mia.
"She's the most experienced among us. For me, Cindana and
Ellen (Angelina), this is our first Sudirman Cup," she said.
Coach Liang Chiusia said she thought Indonesia could beat
Malaysia, but expressed doubts on the chances against China,
South Korea and Denmark.
Chiusia, who will not accompany her athletes, said the hardest
challenge was to beat China to top the group list.
"Chinese shuttlers are better in their physical condition,
speed, power and technical skills," she said.
Both women's singles players, Cindana and Ellen, look better
on paper than Malaysia's Wong Sze Mei in the first match on May
11.
On May 12's second match against China, Cindana seems evenly
matched with either Ye Zhaoying or Gong Zhichao, while Ellen is
may have more of a battle with the either of the Chinese
shuttlers.
If Indonesia reaches the semifinals, it will meet South Korea
or Denmark. Both South Koreans, Kim Ji-hyun and Lee Jo-hyun, are
rated equally, but Dane Camilla Martin could be more difficult.
Cindana said she preferred to meet Ye rather than Gong.
"I have never met Gong before and I have always lost to Ye,
but at least I have studied the way she plays," she said.
She also said it would be difficult to beat Martin considering
the Dane's offensive lobs and sharp chops at the net.
Cindana said she would not be influenced by Chiusia's absence,
because she had competed in a tournament without her coach
before. But Lidya was worried, saying that her coach was the
person who knew her best. (yan)