Hendrawan to lead RI in Asiad team event

JAKARTA (JP): Rising badminton star Hendrawan, a last-minute addition to the Indonesian team for the 13th Asian Games, looks certain to play first singles in the men's team event in Bangkok.

National coach Agus Dwi Santoso said Hendrawan should be the country's first choice due to the rapid progress he has made this year. He is currently in third place in the world rankings while the rest of the Indonesian team are placed outside the top 10.

"We believe Hendrawan will be able to secure a point in the first singles match. The badminton world has turned its attention on him now," said Agus.

Indonesia, the reigning Thomas Cup holder, has set its sights on retaining the Asian Games gold medal it won after beating surprise finalist South Korea four years ago.

Hariyanto Arbi collected the men's singles title at the last Asiad, while the pairing of Rexy Mainaky and Ricky Subagja won the men's doubles. Indonesia collected all the gold medals it won at the 1994 Asiad in the badminton events.

Hendrawan has stolen the show since helping Indonesia lift the Thomas Cup for a record 11th time in May. He went on to win the Singapore Open title earlier this month, beating many of the world's top players in the process.

Agus said that with Hendrawan moving up, Hariyanto, whose erratic form has seen him slump to 12 in the world rankings, was likely to play the second singles.

"But Hariyanto's inclusion in the team will depend on his physical fitness. He is suffering from blisters on his feet," Agus said, adding that the injury had forced the former world champion to miss training for the last two days.

Hariyanto will miss the upcoming Asian Championships, also to be held in Bangkok, because of the pain.

In Hariyanto's absence, Hendrawan, Marlev Mainaky, Jeffer Rosobin, Indra Wijaya and Taufik Hidayat will don the national colors for the event, which starts on Sept. 2.

"The championships will serve as our final trial for the Asiad team," Agus said, adding that a final decision would be made on Hariyanto after the Indonesia Open in October.

Separately, the national kayak team complained about the exit tax they had to pay when they left Indonesia for the World Canoeing Championships in Szeged, Hungary.

"We have been exempt from the exit tax since 1985, so why has the government ended the privilege while we are suffering from the monetary crisis?" the Indonesian Rowing and Canoeing Association's secretary-general Budiman Setiawan told the National Sports Council deputy chairman Arie Sudewo.

Early this year the government increased the tax imposed on Indonesian citizens leaving the country by air fourfold. It now stands at Rp 1 million.

The government has announced that only athletes competing in multi-sports events and handicapped athletes deserve to be exempt.

Responding to the complaint, Arie said he would bring the matter to the attention of the director general of taxes. (yan)