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.