Milo champions to form team for Taipei Junior
Milo champions to form team for Taipei Junior
By Novan Iman Santosa
SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): Indonesian junior shuttlers who
won titles at the 2001 Milo Junior Indonesia Open will be given
priority for selection in the national team heading to the Junior
Asian Championships to be held in Chinese Taipei next month.
"We will have to evaluate their performance here as well as at
the Jakarta Open, but we already have a draft team lineup with
the champions as the backbone," junior singles coach Joko
Suprianto told The Jakarta Post after the championships ended
here late on Saturday evening at Bhinneka sports hall.
"The team will also rely on Indonesia's participation in the
team events. We definitely need a larger number of shuttlers,
with the possibility of recruiting shuttlers from badminton
clubs," Joko added.
While congratulating his shuttlers who won titles, Joko, who
is also the Indonesian Badminton Center (PBI) team manager,
reminded them to keep training hard to produce better
achievements, especially at the Junior Asian Championships.
"You become another ordinary shuttler once you step down from
the stage, so you must not let yourselves get carried away with
your titles," he told the shuttlers.
"And for those who failed, you must improve your training and
do your best to win your own titles," he added.
National junior shuttlers from PBI grabbed three titles at the
championships; the boy's singles, girl's singles and girl's
doubles.
Ardiansyah of PBI defeated teammate Sony Dwi Kuncoro 15-11, 8-
15, 15-12 in the boy's singles, while Silvi Antarini beat
teammate Dewi Tira 8-11, 11-2, 11-5 in the girl's singles. PBI
girls doubles partners, Lina Marlina and Endang Nursanti,
defeated teammates Monica and Lita Nurlita 5-15, 15-6, 17-15.
Junior doubles coach Sigit Pamungkas shared Joko's idea of
recruiting more shuttlers from badminton clubs to strengthen the
junior championship team.
"PBI did not field its boy's doubles and mixed doubles
shuttlers as they have exceeded the age limit of 19 for the
junior category," he told the Post.
"That's why we need to recruit shuttlers from outside the
center in those two events, especially those who reached the
finals, if we want to have a strong team in Taipei," he added.
Titon Gustaman and Frida Winaryati of Djarum Kudus club in
Central Java grabbed the mixed doubles title after defeating
Devin Lahardi and Andriani of Jakarta-based club Tangkas Bogasari
17-15, 15-12.
Hendra Setiawan and Joko Riyadi of Jakarta-based Jaya Raya
beat Ruben Gordown and Belly Gunawan of Djarum Kudus 15-6, 11-15,
15-1 to grab the boy's doubles title.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia
(PBSI) Subagyo Hadisiswoyo expressed his optimism that the event
had proved a pool of newcomers were still available to solidify
Indonesia's domination in the sport.
"There are several good potential shuttlers from both PBI and
badminton clubs, but they still need further training to mature
as first class shuttlers," he said.
"It's our duty to keep track of those potential shuttlers and
develop them," he added.