Hendri ready to clarify Davis Cup withdrawal

JAKARTA (JP): Men's tennis player Hendri Susilo Pramono said he hoped to meet with Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) chairman Tanri Abeng to clarify his withdrawal from the Davis Cup team.

He also hoped other officials involved in the episode would be present at the meeting.

"If there is such a meeting, I hope it will not be like a trial to prosecute me. I will only explain my version of events. After that, they are free to discuss whether they will accept my explanation or not," he said on Tuesday after submitting his explanation of the matter.

Hendri said he would honor Pelti's decision on the matter. "I have done what I have had to in order to clear up this matter. So I will accept any decision made by Pak Tanri. I will not ask him to change his mind if he decides I am no longer allowed to take part in the national team. There would be no use doing that."

The 21-year-old Hendri withdrew from the squad one week before the Davis Cup tie in protest of what he said was the poor treatment he received from Pelti official in charge of athlete development Sudjiono Timan.

The matter began when Sudjiono questioned Hendri about his absence from a practice session held at the house of Pelti's head of development, promotion and international relations, Martina Widjaja, in Ragunan, South Jakarta.

Hendri said it had not been an official practice, which was scheduled for the next day at the Kemayoran Tennis Center.

Hendri said he needed to tell his version of events because he assumed Tanri only heard one side of the incident from Sudjiono and the team's nonplaying captain, Tintus Arianto Wibowo.

Almost all Pelti officials, who like to portray themselves as parents to the players, were upset by Hendri's decision to withdraw from the Davis Cup team, and said Hendri was ungrateful for the past services of the association.

Hendri said he was insulted when Sudjiono berated him in front of other players.

Andrian Raturandang replaced Hendri on the Davis Cup team, losing in the decisive match that gave Uzbekistan the 3-2 win over Indonesia in the Asia Oceania zone Group I tie from Feb. 9 to Feb. 11.

Pelti spokesman Benny Mailili said Hendri's letter of clarification contained a request to meet with Tanri and a chronology of the incident itself.

"In his letter, Hendri asks Tanri for a chance to explain the incident. He says he is ready to meet with Tanri at anytime. He also encloses the fully detailed chronology of the incident. We will proceed with his letter immediately. Hopefully, Tanri will receive the letter by tomorrow at the latest."

Benny also said Hendri had no reason to worry that he would be treated like a criminal when he received the opportunity to tell his version of the story. (ivy)