Injuries haunt Indonesia team prior to finals in KL

Injuries haunt Indonesia team prior to finals in KL

JAKARTA (JP): With only 20 days to go to the Thomas and Uber
Cup Finals in Kuala Lumpur next month, the Indonesia team is
still worrying about the injuries suffered by key shuttlers.

The Badminton Association of Indonesia doctor, Michael
Triangto, told reporters Saturday that four shuttlers are still
recovering from enduring injuries.

Men's singles shuttler, Taufik Hidayat, is still suffering
from back muscle pain, while men's doubles specialist Tony
Gunawan is still bothered by an injury to his right shoulder. On
the women's side, Cindana Hartono is still plagued with a left
calf injury, and doubles players Cynthia Tuwankotta has pain in
her sacrum and Vita Marissa is being treated for right shoulder
injury.

"We are trying to speed their recovery, but it's quite
difficult. We try to make them feel better than yesterday and
enable them to perform their best."

Michael said Taufik has been undergoing physiotherapy to cure
his back muscles and Tony is responding well to his therapy.

"Tony is able to move as usual but he still feels the pain. We
just hope he can overcome it and play well."

Michael said Cindana needed more time to cope with her trauma
after falling during a simulation in February prior to the Uber
Cup qualifying round in New Delhi.

"She has been able to run fast but when the coach asks her to
play, she is unable to overcome her barrier. She moves very
slowly and is always in doubt."

PBSI official in charge of athletes development, Mangombar
Ferdinand Siregar, confirmed that Cindana would miss the Uber Cup
Finals due to the injury.

"Cindana will definitely skip the Uber Cup because she's not
prepared for the event. Even if she can practice, it won't
guarantee her performance; competing with the team has a heavier
psychological burden," he said.

Michael said, "Vita is still being observed, especially her
nerves. She suffered a relapse since the Japan Open early this
month which made her motion range narrower than usual."

"Cynthia needs to stretch and sit-up more after training
sessions to help her overcome the inelastic difficulty in her
back."

PBSI training director, Christian Hadinata, said the
association would only send athletes in fit physical condition.

"We need honesty from athletes. If they are really injured,
they must take the risk of being excluded from the team. I don't
want injured shuttlers on the team which may burden their
teammates. It will also create an uncomfortable situation for
coaches and officials."

Christian said PBSI has yet to name the shuttlers despite the
deadline from the International Badminton Federation (IBF) on
April 24.

"We will send the list on Monday but we'll pick the selected
shuttlers after the simulation at the Pajajaran Stadium in Bogor,
West Java, on April 27," he said, declining to mention the
possible line up.

PBSI will likely pick Hendrawan, world ranked second, Taufik
(5) and Marlev Mainaky (6) in the men's singles. The fourth
singles will be decided between Budi Santoso and Hariyanto Arbi
in the simulation.

The men's doubles will likely be Candra Wijaya and Tony (1)
and Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky (5). The third doubles will be
decided after the simulation.

In the women's singles, Indonesia will rely on Lidya
Djaelawidjaja (17), Ellen Angelina (19), Yuli Marfuah (37) and
Niniek Masrikah, whose ranking is above top 50.

In the women's doubles, Elysa Nathanael and Deyana Lomban (10)
and Etty Tantri and Cynthia (12) and Vita and Emma Ermawati (14)
will join the squad. (yan)