Meulendjiks hopes Mia will be a treat for the Dutch team

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Dutch women's team coach Judith Meulendjiks is hopeful the presence of former Indonesian number one Mia Audina on her squad will lift her players to a higher level.

Meulendjiks, who also plays singles on the team, said on Thursday she was happy to have Mia on the national team. She said she expected her to compete in the Grand Prix tournament series for the Netherlands and also represent the country in the Uber Cup, the sport's most prestigious women's team event.

"I hope we can learn a lot from her as she was the 1996 Olympic silver medalist. Hopefully, she will lift us to a higher level and will boost our side when we compete in the Uber Cup in 2002," she said.

Mia sparked controversy when she decided to move to the Netherlands with her Surinamese-born husband Tylio Lobman, who also holds Dutch citizenship. They married in March.

She was scheduled to represent the Netherlands for the first time in last week's Singapore Open but the International Badminton Federation (IBF) ruled her ineligible because she remained under dual jurisdiction.

The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) complained to the IBF that Mia officially left the association on Aug. 12 and could not play for a new country.

IBF rules stipulate a player can only represent a second country after residing there for at least three months.

Dutch national team coach Robbie Kneefel said he was unaware of Mia's training program.

"I didn't have the chance to speak to Mia because we had to leave for Singapore when she arrived in the Netherlands. But my training director Martijn Doormalen told me that she might be able to compete in the Dutch Open, German Open, Danish Open, Hong Kong Open and China Open."

Mia is scheduled to train with the national team, which also includes Brenda Beenhakker, at the Netherlands Badminton Center in Utrecht five times a week. Mia lives in Rotterdam, about 45 minutes from Utrecht.

Kneefel said he first heard rumors of Mia's impending move about a month ago.

"Actually it's difficult for me because I understood that she moved to the Netherlands with a little dispute with the association," said Kneefel, whose parents also come from Indonesia.

Meulendijks said she would recommend that Mia play in a German club and compete in the German league.

"In the Netherlands, there are not as many clubs and competitions as in Germany. I played for Langenfeld together with Sweden's Margit Borg and Kelly Morgan of Wales. I think it's better for Mia to consider playing in Germany." (yan)