Lack of funds keeps shuttlers out of European events

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The cash-strapped Badminton Association of Indonesia has dropped plans to send shuttlers to two Grand Prix tournaments in Europe and has short-listed players for another events.

The European outings were the German Open, which is under way until Sunday, and the US$75,000 Dutch Open in the following week.

As for the $250,000 Danish Open, PBSI has trimmed down the number of shuttlers from 22 to only 10.

"A financial shortage has forced us to choose only the best shuttlers for the tournaments," PBSI training director Christian Hadinata said on Wednesday.

"Only shuttlers who are well prepared deserve shots in such prestigious events."

In the Danish Open, Indonesia will rely on Indonesian Open winner Marlev Mainaky and second stringer Johan Hadikusuma in the men's singles while Lidya Djaelawidjaja is the only women's singles player to qualify.

Indonesia is banking on the new pairing of seasoned Halim Heryanto and second stringer Luluk Hadiyanto in the men's doubles, and the team of Deyana Lomban and Vita Marissa in the women's doubles.

Vita will also play the mixed doubles with Nova Widhianto, in addition to the veteran pair of Tri Kusharjanto and Emma Ermawati.

Christian has defended PBSI's decision to send Johan, who has yet to produce any real results, saying the young player was used to the new scoring system of seven points in best-of-five games, which will be adopted in the Danish Open.

"We expect Johan can do better in the new system as Marlev did in the Indonesian Open. The new system suits both players," he said.

Initially, PBSI also registered world champion Hendrawan, Taufik Hidayat and Rony Agustinus in the men's singles and Atu Rosalina in the women's singles.

The Kuala Lumpur 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games winners, Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto, were also dropped from the major event. Junior players Alvent Yulianto and Hendra Aprida Gunawan and veteran Bambang Suprianto was also cut.

In the women's doubles, Eny Erlangga and Jo Novita have been sidelined, as has Minarti Timur, who was to pair Emma.

Alvent was to pair Eny and Hendra to team up with Jo in the mixed doubles.

"Considering our team's strength, PBSI set a target of winning the mixed doubles title this time around," said Christian.

"We cannot expect any title from the men's doubles pairs as the second stringer pairs have yet to reach the quality of their seniors. Lidya will also find tough opposition as Denmark will surely field its strongest women's singles players."