Mulyo accepts PBSI offer to coach Taufik until May

JAKARTA (JP): Former national coach Mulyo Handoyo accepted an offer by the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) to coach world number four Taufik Hidayat until the World Championships.

"I decided to take the second offer because it gives me enough time to help Taufik reach his peak at the World Championships," he told The Jakarta Post by telephone.

"It is for our own good that I decided to take this second offer."

PBSI earlier offered Mulyo a contract to coach Taufik for the All England in Birmingham, England, which will run from March 7 to March 11. Both Mulyo and Taufik rejected the offer.

Mulyo said he would decline all short-term offers unless they included the Sudirman Cup and the World Championships in Seville, Spain, from May 27 to June 10.

The association bowed to Taufik's wishes for the second time since he threatened to quit the national squad and skip the All England unless PBSI hired Mulyo to coach at the national badminton center. PBSI did not include Mulyo at the center because of his personal problem and his inability to prevent Taufik from verbally attacking PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo.

Mulyo said PBSI executive director Karsono contacted him on Friday morning to offer him the chance to coach Taufik in the All England.

"I turned down the offer because it would be useless. But then Pak Karsono called me again giving me the option to coach Taufik until May.

"It is almost impossible for me to get Taufik to his peak form for the most prestigious Grand Prix event (the All England). But I will do my best to get the best results in the World Championships."

Mulyo said the training director at the Indonesian Badminton Center, Christian Hadinata, understood the situation.

"The priority is to get Taufik into his top form. I will evaluate him during our first training session on Monday before planning any training program," he said.

Separately, PBSI secretary-general Leo Chandra Wiranata denied that PBSI continued to back down from its decision not to hire Mulyo to coach at the badminton center.

"It is not that we are changing our mind about the decision, but we are only trying to do our best in providing what the shuttlers need.

"By agreeing to what they ask for, we expect them to reach better and higher achievements."

However, Leo said Subagyo had yet to sign the contract hiring Mulyo to coach at the center until May.

"We are still waiting for his approval of the new deal."

Indonesia will send Taufik Hidayat, Hendrawan, Johan Hadikusuma, Budi Santoso, Marlev Mainaky, Rony Agustinus and Irwansyah to the All England men's singles, and Lidya Djaelawidjaya, Ellen Angelina and Yuli Marfuah to the women's singles.

Candra and Tony, the 2000 Olympic men's doubles gold medalists, will again play with different partners. Candra will play with former partner Sigit Budiarto, and Tony will team with Halim Heryanto.

Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian, Ricky Subagdja and Antonius Budi Irianto, and Tri Kusheryanto and Bambang Suprianto will join them in the men's doubles.

Competing in the women's doubles will be Deyana Lomban and Carmelita, Etty Tantry and Indarti Issoliana, and Minarti Timur and Emma Ermawati. In the mixed doubles, Indonesia will send Bambang Suprianto and Minarti Timur, Tri Kusheryanto and Indarti Issoliana, and Wahyu Agung and Emma Ermawati.

PBSI also has shown some inconsistency in selecting junior shuttlers for the badminton center. The association said it would summon 36 more shuttlers for tryouts in response to protests and requests from its chapters.

Earlier, the association announced 16 junior shuttlers would automatically be admitted to the center, with another 10 to try out for five available slots.

They shuttlers are expected to arrive at the center on Sunday and begin their one-week tryout on Monday. (nvn)