Marlev to ask Taufik to meet Subagyo over coach's fate

JAKARTA (JP): World number eight Marlev Mainaky expressed concern over teammate Taufik Hidayat's statement over the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) decision not to rehire coach Mulyo Handoyo at its training center.

"As the most senior shuttler coached by Mulyo, I will ask Taufik and also junior Arief Rasidi to meet chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo to seek clarification on this matter. So far, I haven't received PBSI's letter on athletes to be admitted to the Indonesian Badminton Center," Marlev told The Jakarta Post in a telephone interview on Friday evening.

"By having a face-to-face discussion, we'll know what is really going on. We need to know the real reason for not rehiring Mulyo.

"Even if PBSI cannot change its decision over Mulyo's fate, I suggest the association give him an award for his service.

"He has used his skills and knowledge to create world-class players like Taufik. Taufik's still young and has a bright future. I understand why he has reacted so emotionally on this matter.

Marlev said he was shocked when he learnt that Mulyo would not be called back by the association. "What really shocked me was that we had to come to know of this problem from the newspapers"

"I really regret PBSI's decision. I don't really understand the problem."

Taufik launched verbal attacks on Subagyo and urged the chairman to step down after winning the Asian Badminton Championships. He also criticized the organization's performance.

"I don't know if it is personal but I disagree with the decision.

Marlev, who will be 29 this year, said he had met Mulyo on Friday morning at the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.

"Mulyo told me about the decision and said he had accepted it. I offered to quit the center but he forbad me. He said if I really cared for him, I won't give him more trouble by quitting the center."

The 19-year-old Taufik, world number four, told the press on Friday that he would give PBSI two weeks to reconsider its decision. He said he might skip the All England, in which he reached the finals in 1999 and 2000, if he was unprepared.

Taufik, who is banned by PBSI from competing in the Korea Open and World Grand Prix Finals, also said earlier that he might quit the center if Mulyo was not included in the coaches' list.

Marlev said he would not have problems being coached by Agus Dwi Santoso -- who is coaching Hendrawan, Budi Santoso, Ronny Agustinus and Johan Hadikusuma.

"I'm quite old and won't be staying long at the center, so I have no problems being trained by Agus. But it's pity that Taufik must suffer for this. He is very close to Mulyo..."

Meanwhile, PBSI secretary-general Leo Chandra Wiranata hoped Taufik would withdraw his threat to skip the training.

"We expect Taufik will not go that far with his threat and will attend the center's first training session on Monday," he was quoted as saying by Antara news agency on Friday.

"PBSI had expected the training program to run smoothly and is surprised with his threat because we didn't think he would go that far."

"Besides, we believe all coaches have the capability of turning their shuttlers into champions. Especially when the shuttler is as talented as Taufik," he continued. (yan/nvn)