Mia must get her act together: Coach

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's best current hope in badminton, Mia Audina, must be able to put aside all her problems if she wants to qualify for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Coach Liang Chiusia told reporters on Wednesday that a champion should not involve her personal problems in training and competition.

"We all have problems but a champion must put aside her personal problems during a competition. She must also concentrate fully during training and not think about them," Chiusia said.

Mia performance has been dropping off lately. Her crucial lapse was made in the women's team event in the just-concluded 13th Asian Games in Bangkok where she lost to South Korean Kim Ji-hyun in the women's team semifinals.

She also lost in the 1998 Copenhagen Masters this week to Dane Mette Sorensen and Chinese Zhang Ning.

"She must overcome her personal problems, otherwise they will give her trouble and disturb her concentration," Chiusia said.

The 19-year-old Mia has been concerned lately about her mother's health. Her mother is suffering kidney failure and must undergo dialysis treatment twice a week.

Her poor relationship with her father, Rivan Tjiptawan, also influenced her form. Rivan used to be Mia's idol during her youth.

Mia's close relationship with boyfriend Tylio Lobman, a Dutch gospel singer, has been blamed for her declining form. But she has refuted this and said that Tylio has been boosting her fighting spirit.

Chiusia said she was really shocked by Mia's failure in the Asiad.

"She never told me that she was nervous and scared. If only she had told me before playing, I could have helped her by giving advice," she said.

Chiusia compared Mia to former world number one Susi Susanti, now retired due to her pregnancy, who often confided with her about her feelings before competing.

"If the player only keeps quiet, how can I know that they're nervous? At that time Mia told Minarti Timur (a mixed doubles specialist) that she would be able to win one point for the team," she said.

Chiusia said that Mia has started to feel afraid of losing.

"It's a normal feeling but she has to overcome it. She's in a critical situation because she never had such a feeling years ago," she said.

"Mia is only 19 years old but her problems are very complex. Unfortunately, she rarely tells me about them and so I can't help her," she added.

Chiusia said that last week Mia got a call from home saying that her mother was in a critical condition.

"She cried on court during practice. She hadn't called her Mom before leaving for Bangkok. I told her to go home and see her Mom," she said.

Some of Mia's friends, who requested anonymity, said that Mia was an introvert.

"She never told me about her personal problems, even about her mother, father or boyfriend. We only spoke about other things and she rarely met us. Maybe she's too busy," she said.

"Mia was really close to her Mom and is shocked that she is in a critical condition," she said.

They said Mia should solve all her problems.

"If she still has such difficult problems, how can she train seriously? She won't be able to concentrate," she said.

"Maybe it's better for her to get married and then she could live steadily," the other replied, adding that Tylio dominated Mia's life.

They all said Mia herself must change her life.

"If she wants to change and improve her life, we'll be glad to help. It all depends on her," they said. (yan)