Hendrawan to lead RI in Asiad team event

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)