KONI regrets Mia's plan, support PBSI's decision

KONI regrets Mia's plan, support PBSI's decision

JAKARTA (JP): National Sports Council (KONI) vice chairman
Arie Sudewo has expressed regret over Mia's plan to follow
husband Tylio Lobman's move to Rotterdam and supported a
Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) decision to expel her
if she makes the move.

"She's our backbone and I regret her decision. But I threw my
weight behind the PBSI decision to expel her. If Mia moves to the
Netherlands, who will supervise her training programs? Who will
be responsible for her? If she is being coached here, we have her
day-to-day progress report," Arie said on Thursday.

Mia recently announced plans to reside in Rotterdam but
continue playing for Indonesia until the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
She said her husband had obtained a better job there and she
wanted to erase the pain surrounding the death of her mother,
Lanny Susilawati, who passed away in April.

PBSI's comeback was to offer Mia two options: first, stay in
Indonesia and play for the country at the Olympics or second,
resign from the National Badminton Center.

Mia, who will turn 20 on Aug. 22, denied she had made the
decision to move to the Netherlands, but said she might train
with the Netherlands national team. She said formal discussions
with the team's coach were yet to take place.

An offer was earlier made by Jaya Raya club chairman Ciputra,
who offered an apartment in South Jakarta and a job for Tylio on
the condition that Mia played for Indonesia until the Olympics.

"KONI supported the PBSI decision because we believe that the
decision was not made overnight. It had to be discussed among top
officials. I also believe PBSI officials asked Mia to reconsider
her plans. If she has made a decision, then that's her right, her
privacy. She's a married woman and I consider her an adult," Arie
said.

"Just give her time to reconsider her plan and decide her next
move in relation to the PBSI options."

Arie said KONI was not overly concerned if Mia left the
country.

"Why should we worry about her plans. We have a lot of young
talent in the country. PBSI only has to take the right talent and
develop them to become the country's future hopes."

Arie said Mia's performances had not been the best lately, but
that she was ready to regain form.

With Mia currently ranked 18th in the world, her recent weight
gains might preclude her from reaching the top three positions.

The 1996 Olympic silver medalist plans to compete in the
Singapore Open next month and the Indonesia Open in September to
meet qualifying requirements for the Olympics. (yan)