Indonesian team optimistic at reaching Sudirman semis

Indonesian team optimistic at reaching Sudirman semis

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is optimistic about reaching the
semifinals of the Sudirman Cup in Copenhagen next month, facing
China and Malaysia in Group B.

The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) training
director, Christian Hadinata, told The Jakarta Post that
Indonesia needed to win once, against Malaysia, to go through to
the semifinals.

"We are strong in the women's singles, doubles and mixed
doubles. We must win those events. In the men's singles and
doubles, we have an equal chance with the Malaysians," said
Christian, who is also Indonesia's deputy team manager for the
event.

"If our women's shuttlers lose to Malaysia, it means they are
weakening," he added.

However, Christian was not hopeful about facing China in Group
A.

"China is very strong in the women's singles and doubles. We
might win the mixed doubles, as our best duo of Minarti Timur and
Tri Kusherjanto beat China's toughest pair of Liu Yong and Ge Fei
in the Asian Games in December," he said, saying the world's best
mixed doubles team is Kim Dong-moon and Ra Kyung-min of South
Korea.

He said Indonesia would have to win the men's singles and
doubles.

In Group A, host Denmark will face South Korea and Sweden.
Denmark and China are joint top seeds at the Sudirman Cup, after
meeting in the 1997 finals where China took home the trophy.
Indonesia lost to China in the semifinals.

Christian said national shuttlers have prepared better for the
Sudirman Cup, which will take place from May 10 to May 15.

"They have boosted their motivation with the presence of
physical trainer Pak Tahir Djide. He brought new methods to the
previously monotonous training. He trained singles and doubles
shuttlers together, which also raises the sense of teamwork," he
said.

Christian said shuttlers' complaints about their training were
irrational.

"They said they couldn't stand the training, saying they would
injure themselves. That's nonsense. A professional athlete must
be prepared for any tournament with hard training. Their
complaints reflect their poor conditions."

"Pak Tahir is a very experienced trainer. I was trained by him
years ago. He has considered the perfect method to increase our
athletes' form in a very short time," said Christian, a former
doubles player.

He also said he had talked with coaches and urged them to
impart the right knowledge to athletes.

"Physical training won't injure athletes, if they are really
prepared for major events. Besides, the training put more
emphasis on movements to support their technical skills."

Christian said PBSI would stage a second physical test, after
the first one in March, to observe the progress of athletes. But
he declined to give a date, saying it would depend on Tahir.

PBSI is to stage the second simulation on Wednesday at Armed
Forces Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, at 09.00 a.m.

Indonesia won the Sudirman Cup when it was held for the first
time here in 1989. Since then, China and South Korea have won the
trophy.

Indonesia's shuttlers will also compete in the World
Championships in Copenhagen from May 16 to May 23. (yan)