Local shuttlers under pressure

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian shuttlers can't handle the pressure in critical points, the Indonesian Badminton Association's chief, Soerjadi, said yesterday.

"Look at our players during deuce or rubber sets. Their shock is expressed crystal clearly on their faces and it gives their opponents an advantage," he said at the Cipayung badminton center in East Jakarta.

"Emotions are not being tempered. Shuttlers can be taught how to deal with their emotions, especially in critical situations," he added.

The squad has little time left to prepare for the Sudirman Cup and the world championships in Glasgow, Scotland, next month.

Soerjadi said the players also tired easily.

"When they are exhausted, they cannot fight hard and lose easily. I can't say that they give up," he said.

Soerjadi cited training runs around the badminton center as an example.

"On the third lap, they seemed very exhausted and complained greatly. It's really like a test for them on the court. If they give up easily in training, their attitude will be taken with them when they perform," he said.

Soerjadi said he was hopeful the players could learn from watching their performances on video.

"They are usually surprised when they find out that they performed badly during the All England tournament. They said how could they play so slowly although they felt as thought they were playing very quickly," he said.

Psychologist Prof. Singgih said the association had to raise the players' motivation and self-confidence.

"We want them to be fully motivated. It will require cooperation between the coaches and athletes. There is a special program to increase their self-esteem," he said.

Singgih was satisfied by the way coaches had tried to get to know their athletes and adopt training to suite.

"It's good to know that our coaches have tried hard to approach their athletes," he said.

Singgih said the number-one men's doubles Chandra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto, who only reached the semifinals at the All England, had risen up the ranks to quickly.

"The sooner they reach the top, the harder their burden is. We must guide them to cope with stress positively," he said.

"We must teach them how to focus their mind only on winning a match and not thinking of losing," he added.

Coach Atik Djauhari said coaches had to train each player differently to maximize their fitness.

"Each of them needs different treatment. Chandra and Sigit, although they are partners, need different amounts of physical training," he said.

Atik said he regretted being ignorant of the team's falling fitness after winning the Japan Open early this year.

"I was so satisfied with the fact that our doubles made an All-Indonesian final at the Japan Open. I thought our training was sufficient for the All England," he said.

Indonesia failed to win a title at the All England although the country's women's pair of Eliza and Zelin Resiana and mixed doubles Tri Kusherjanto and Minarti Timur reached the finals.

Badminton association official Hadi Nasri said after a meeting with coaches yesterday that the final team for the cup and world championships was expected to be announced tomorrow or Friday by Soerjadi after the association's meeting.

The association plans to send players overseas in three groups: The first group will depart May 13, the main group will leave May 15 and the last group will leave May 22.

Hadi said the association expected to run a simulation tournament, hopefully by the end of this month, to see the players' strengths and weaknesses.

Christian Hadinata, team technical coordinator, said that since the players had begun training intensively their technical skills had lapsed and reflects slowed.

"Starting this week, their technical skills will be combined with physical training. They must enter the accuracy and speed zone this week," he said.

Christian was satisfied with the players motivation during training. "Their motivation to win grows from day to day." (yan)