Hendri sees better challenge ahead

JAKARTA (JP): Men's singles player Hendri Susilo Pramono said on Tuesday he did not regret his decision to quit the country's Davis Cup team following a dispute with an Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) official last week.

He said it has boosted his motivation to show national tennis fans and Pelti officials alike that he is still one of the country's best players.

"This is a challenge for me. I'm not discouraged by this incident and I will continue to practice hard. I want to prove to everybody that I'm still a good player," he said.

Hendri withdrew from the team on Thursday after being allegedly mistreated by Pelti's official in charge of athletes development Sudjiono Timan.

Pelti later on named Andrian Raturandang to play the second singles match joining the team's first singles player Suwandi and doubles pair Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo.

Indonesia is to face top seed Uzbekistan in the first round of the Group I Asia Oceania zone tie starting from Friday to Sunday at the Kemayoran Tennis Center, Central Jakarta.

The winner will play the second round from April 6 to April 8 against the winner between South Korea and New Zealand, while the loser will go to the second round playoff, the winner of which will be promoted to the World Group qualifying round.

Hendri said he felt disrespected by Sudjiono.

"I feel that I'm not appreciated by Sudjiono. I felt humiliated after he lambasted me in front of the public," said the 21-year-old player.

Sudjiono questioned Hendri on his absence from practice at Pelti head of development, promotions and international relations Martina Wijaya's house in Ragunan, South Jakarta.

Hendri had argued that it was not an occasion for serious training. The official practice began on Thursday.

Hendri also said he was forced to resign by Sudjiono.

"Sudjiono told me if I didn't want to play, I shouldn't play for the team. He repeated it three times. I didn't answer him at that time and just left.

"It was the Pelti official who didn't want me to join the team. I really wanted to play but I don't know why he suddenly urged me to withdraw."

Hendri did not refute the possibility that Sudjiono's action was triggered by his dislike of his coach Deddy Prasetyo.

"I can't rule out the possibility because Sudjiono also mentioned Oom (uncle) Deddy's name in his outrage. He said if Oom Deddy asked me not to play in the team then I shouldn't continue," he said, adding that he made his own decision without Deddy's interference.

Hendri had joined the team as a substitute when Indonesia played Qatar and the Philippines in Group II matches in 1999. He played as the second singles member when Indonesia faced Chinese Taipei to earn a promotion to Group I.

Pelti also complained that it had spent lots of money to finance him and his best friend Febi Widhiyanto's overseas tour.

"Pelti only sponsors players whom we have warmed up before national events like the Southeast Asian Games or the Davis Cup. For individual trips, we have to raise funds on our own. It's Pelti's job anyway to finance its national team for tryouts," Hendri replied.

He expressed optimism in earning sponsorship to play overseas.

Hendri and Febi will play in the Bundesliga for German-based clubs in Liemen and Schwetzingen in May.

They received sponsorship from PT Asuransi Allianz Life Indonesia in life insurance policies worth US$25,000 each. The sponsorship began in 1999, but starting this year the company halved the amount.

"We have to find half the amount in order to cover expenses," Hendri said. (ivy)