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)