Hariyanto, Rexy not allowed to leave: PBSI

Hariyanto, Rexy not allowed to leave: PBSI

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
will not allow senior shuttlers to resign from the Indonesian
Training Center because "the country still needs them".

PBSI executive director, Karsono, told reporters on Tuesday
that men's singles veteran Hariyanto Arbi and men's doubles
specialist Rexy Mainaky should not leave the center because they
were still in top form.

"Both players are still in the world's top rankings. We must
not let them go. They should be made to feel a part of the
center," Karsono said.

Hariyanto, the 1993 world champion, has planned to move to
Singapore, and Rexy has received an offer to coach England next
month.

Both players expressed disappointment over some PBSI
officials' unfair treatment toward them. The officials urged both
veterans to leave the center as they had not shown any
outstanding performances recently.

But Hariyanto, also known as Hari, had a reversal of fortune
by winning the Singapore Open and Rexy had the same by winning
the Indonesia Open with partner Ricky Subagja. The pair won the
1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

Karsono said Hari had told Arisanto, an official of the
Central Java branch of PBSI, that he had canceled his plan to
move to Singapore.

"Hari has assured me that five Indonesian men's singles --
Hendrawan, Taufik Hidayat, Budi Santoso, Marlev Mainaky and Hari
himself -- have a chance to bring home the Olympic gold medal,"
he said.

"I think Rexy still has a chance to retain his gold medal with
Ricky. Indonesia still needs them."

Karsono expressed worry that both players' plan to move could
inspire other athletes to use the training center only as a
stepping stone to move to another country.

"If that happens in the future, we won't have top players
anymore because they will have moved on to other countries."

Karsono said he would meet the secretary-general, officials in
charge of athlete development and athletes to discuss and solve
the problem.

Separately, the National Sports Council (KONI) chairman, Arie
Sudewo, said he would meet PBSI officials to discuss the issue.

"I think PBSI athlete development officials must intensify
their efforts to make shuttlers feel appreciated. It is
regrettable if those players want to move, but that's their
right." (yan)