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)