Lower ticket prices would surely attrack spectators

Indonesia is hosting the Thomas and Uber Cup badminton team championships for the sixth time since the competition was staged in 1949. Despite the lofty ambition of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) to create history by retaining the Thomas Cup for the sixth consecutive time, or 14 times in total, the competition has lacked spectators and promotion. The Jakarta Post talked to some people about the issue.

Ronny, 21, is a student of the school of industrial engineering at Trisakti University, Grogol, West Jakarta. He lives with his parents and sister in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta:

I'm not really into badminton, but I do watch the Thomas and Uber Cup matches occasionally on television, especially when my mother wants to watch it. She's the real badminton fan in our family.

She recalled how hectic it was when the championships were held in Jakarta. The stadium was packed -- the whole nation was watching, she recalled.

My mother, like other teenage girls at the time, particularly admired former world champion Liem Swie King. She said she even got hives while watching him nearly lose a match.

But today, I don't think people are enthusiastic anymore. Maybe it's because Indonesia's performance in sports has been declining. We can't claim ourselves to be "numero uno" anymore. I saw yesterday how our Uber Cup team was thrashed by China in the opening group match.

It's really sad. Badminton brought Indonesia sporting glory on the international stage. We need to do something to revive our excellence and fanaticism in badminton before it's too late.

Hendri Satrio, 26, works as a media relations officer at a foreign non-governmental organization. He lives with his wife in Tambun, East Bekasi:

I hope Indonesia will retain the Thomas Cup for the sixth consecutive time. We still have a chance, although our team is only seeded five behind China, Malaysia, Denmark and South Korea.

The only edge that our shuttlers can count on (above foreign teams) is public support from a home crowd. The PBSI has repeatedly asked Jakartans to flock to the stadium to support the players, but the tickets are too expensive. They range from Rp 25,000 (US$2.89) for regular seats to Rp 150,000 for VIPs.

Who can afford such a high price? Middle- to high-income people won't rush there and others would rather watch the games on TV. The PBSI should lower ticket prices for matches in which Indonesia is playing, so that more spectators will show up.

-- The Jakarta Post