Hendri to give his version
JAKARTA (JP): National junior tennis player Hendri Susilo Pramono has expressed the hope that the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) will listen to both sides before arriving at any decisions, particularly regarding sensitive issues that could affect a player's future.
He complained of being cornered by the assumptions of some Pelti officials and by media reports saying that he had withdrawn from the country's Davis Cup team.
However, there were no immediate accusations saying his withdrawal had caused Indonesia's 2-3 defeat to Uzbekistan in the Asia Oceania zone Group I tie from Feb. 9 to Feb. 11.
Hendri said he would send a clarification letter to Pelti's chairman Tanri Abeng.
"I am writing the letter now. I may send it to him on Monday if I don't change my mind," he said after practice on Friday.
Hendri was disappointed to find out that Tanri, a former junior minister, had only listened to a one-sided report from his officials but had never asked to hear Hendri's side of the story.
"I regret his failure to listen to both sides. He must avoid acting like this in the future so that no more players will suffer ill-treatment at the hands of Pelti officials. This incident may provide a valuable lesson for Pelti and the players."
He also hoped that the clarification could help to restore his good standing with the organization.
"There are many Pelti officials who have only been given a one-sided explanation for my withdrawal. If my clarification is made known to everybody, including the media, they will all get the whole picture. Let them make up their own minds on who is right and who is wrong."
The 21-year-old Hendri withdrew from the squad one week before the match as a protest against the Pelti official in charge of athletic development Sudjiono Timan for the bad treatment he had allegedly meted out to Hendri.
Sudjiono had questioned why Hendri skipped a practice session at the house of Pelti's head of development, promotion and international relations Martina Widjaja in Ragunan, South Jakarta. Hendri argued it was not an official practice, which was to take place at the Kemayoran Tennis Center a day later.
Hendri said he could not tolerate Sudjiono berating him in front of the public.
"I won't apologize to Pelti for my withdrawal. I did nothing against the association. But, I want to clarify the reason behind it to Pak Tanri.
"Pak Tanri has only heard the views of Sudjiono and Tintus (Arianto Wibowo, non-playing captain) and I want to explain to him that not everything they are saying is true. I did not skip practice."
Hendri also said he wanted to apologize to tennis fans who had asked him frequently about his withdrawal.
"Many people who know me personally have asked me why I quit the team. It looks like they were disappointed by my absence. I told them I did it for a reason."
Pelti substituted Andrian Raturandang for Hendri to join another singles Suwandi and doubles Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo.
Indonesia has to face host South Korea in the first playoffs from April 6 to April 8. If Indonesia loses, it must win the second playoffs to stay in Group I. (ivy)