IBF asks Indonesia to include Mia on Olympic team

JAKARTA (JP): Former Indonesian badminton star Mia Audina has always been a newsworthy figure among local badminton fans, not least after she left for the Netherlands last year to reside with her Dutch-Surinamese husband.

The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) caused more shockwaves on Thursday when it announced the International Badminton Federation (IBF) requested Indonesia include the 20- year-old shuttler in its Olympic contingent.

PBSI secretary-general Leo Chandra Wiranata said the IBF's letter asked Indonesia to include Mia on the national team if the International Olympic Committee turned down the request of the Badminton Association of the Netherlands to allow her to represent the country in the Olympics.

The letter was signed by the federation's official in charge of international championships and tournament open badminton rankings, Vanessa Freeman.

"I have to consult with PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo about this matter. The decision is in his hands," he said. "I will give him some aspects to consider.

"The most important thing is we must have a personal letter from Mia assuring us that she will play for Indonesia."

"I don't want something bad to happen during or after the Olympics. We can't directly answer 'yes' or 'no' to the request."

Leo said PBSI would announce the decision by next week.

The deadline for Olympic badminton qualification is April 30. The IBF is scheduled to announce the list of shuttlers for the Games on May 1.

Leo said the IBF sent a letter last month asking PBSI to support the Dutch bid to include Mia on its team for the Olympics in Sydney in September.

"We didn't give any response to the call. In principal, we leave the matter to the IBF rule saying that a player can represent a new country in a multisports event if he or she has resided in the country for one year.

Mia, now world ranked 11, moved to the Netherlands in July following her mother's death in April. A star since the age of 14, she married Tylio Lobman, a gospel singer, and is reportedly estranged from her father Rivan Tjiptawan.

Leo assumed the IBF requested Mia be included on the Indonesian team because it wanted world-class athletes in the quadrennial event, and particularly Mia, the 1996 Olympic silver medalist.

National Sports Council (KONI) vice chairman Arie Sudewo said he would leave the decision to PBSI.

"I just heard about it from you. But I believe PBSI will discuss the matter. No matter what the result is, I leave it to the association."

Arie said KONI previously received the letter from the IBF asking Indonesia to allow Mia to represent the Netherlands in the Olympics.

"We replied that we would follow the IBF's rules."

Arie said he was unfamiliar with Dutch citizenship requirements.

"If Mia hasn't kept her Indonesian citizenship, I'm afraid she has already become a Dutch citizen. But I don't really understand their rules. If it's the same as here, then Mia is automatically Dutch unless she keeps her own citizenship." (yan)