Indonesia eying double badminton crowns

Indonesia eying double badminton crowns

JAKARTA (JP): A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. A
cliche? It seems so for the Indonesian Thomas and Uber Cuppers
who fly to Hong Kong today for their title defense mission from
May 16 to 26.

They are convinced that the 3,000-capacity Queen Elizabeth
stadium in Hong Kong will witness their retention of the two
trophies, symbols of world badminton supremacy. They are also
confident that Atlanta Olympic gold medals will be placed around
their necks.

Only two months stand between the Uber Cup and Thomas Cup team
badminton championships and the Atlanta Olympic badminton
competitions.

Indonesia's top shuttlers have shown a declining rather than
increasing form recently. All England in March was the final
proof, with not one Indonesian singles player surviving in the
semifinals.

There isn't a bird in the hand, and we still want to capture
the two in the bush?

"The two are interconnected," said the country's badminton
queen Susi Susanti. "In the Uber Cup championship, we can measure
each other's strengths and weaknesses and this will better
prepare us for the Atlanta Olympic Games."

"Two months are enough," Susi's fiance, world No. 6 Alan
Budikusuma said. Susi and Alan won gold medals at the Barcelona
Olympics in 1992 when badminton made its debut as a full-fledged
medal event.

Men's crack doubles player Gunawan, whose partnership with
Bambang Supriyanto ranks the pair the world No. 6 in men's
doubles, said he had no problem facing two major badminton events
within such a short time interval.

"Why, in 1992 the same thing happened. We lost just 3-2 to
Malaysia in the Thomas Cup final. But Alan was triumphant in
Barcelona."

Those who observe the Cuppers, however, are divided about
whether or not aiming for double targets is realistic.

"Everyone, I believe, will say that this is very realistic. We
should be optimistic. But if we lose the Thomas Cup, this shall
by no means reduce our spirit to fight it out in Atlanta,"eight-
time All England champion Rudy Hartono Kurniawan said.

Coach Indra Gunawan, however, said that two major events
within two months might be too much for his shuttlers. "They may
not be well prepared emotionally. They often fall short of
composure which, I believe, dries up 30 percent of their
strengths. Moreover, they are virtually an open book to their
opponents, because they have met each other too often."

Noted sports observer M.F. Siregar said that eying victories
in Hong Kong and Atlanta was not a pipe dream, provided that
clever strategies were applied. "I don't think it wise if we
always rely on our top players such as Joko Suprianto, Hariyanto
Arbi or Susi."

Former world champion Icuk Sugiarto said that the shuttlers
should forget the Olympics for the time being. "They should fully
concentrate on how to retain the Thomas and Uber Cups. Victory in
Hong Kong is all they need to win back their shattered self-
confidence after their premature All England exit in March," Icuk
said.

"If they lose the Cups, they may be dragged deeper into
hopelessness," Icuk warned.

Indra, however, disagreed. "In 1992, we lost the Cups but won
gold medals in the Barcelona Olympics. Doesn't this show that our
shuttlers' motivation was increased by the loss of the Cups?"

Either Indra or Icuk could be dead right. However, unlike in
1992, this year the odds are heavier toward Indonesia because
both its Thomas and Uber Cuppers are in the same league with a
rejuvenating China. Indonesia has won the Thomas Cup nine times
and the Uber Cup twice. (arf)