Number of shuttlers at training center halved

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) plans to more than halve the number of shuttlers at the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, starting in January 2000.

PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo said the number of players would be slashed from 66 to 32 as the association concentrated on three major events.

"Only 32 world-class players will train in the center in an effort to focus their attention on retaining the Thomas Cup, bringing home the Uber Cup and grab as many gold medals as possible in the Olympics," he said after meeting with association officials.

"Those shuttlers will only be allowed to compete in international tournaments as a preparation to qualify for the Olympics and to decide their International Badminton Federation (IBF) rankings for their Olympics drawing.

"They are not allowed to compete for their provinces in the 15th National Games (PON) in Surabaya in June."

Indonesian women's shuttlers will compete in the Uber Cup qualifying round in New Delhi in February. If they reach the final round, they will compete along with national men's shuttlers in the Thomas and Uber Cups, the sport's major team championships, in Kuala Lumpur in May.

PBSI is targeting winning gold in the men's singles and men's doubles at the Olympics in Sydney in September.

In the IBF men's singles rankings, Marlev Mainaky is third followed by Taufik Hidayat, Hariyanto Arbi and Hendrawan. In the men's doubles, Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan are ranked second, followed by Antonius and Denny Kantono, Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian, and Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky.

Subagyo said the other 34 shuttlers would be trained at PBSI chapters in Jakarta, West Java, Central Java and East Java.

"Hopefully our new system will be able to boost local shuttlers' spirit to challenge the national players and create a competitive atmosphere in those chapters," he said.

PBSI will continue to fund the shuttlers' training.

"But PBSI chapters must pay for their local shuttlers who qualify to join our national players in the training system. Besides, PBSI will also have to provide financial help to potential shuttlers from other provinces, including Aceh, Irian Jaya and Maluku," Subagyo said in referring to the three troubled provines.

PBSI will stage selections twice a year to determine the shuttlers' national rankings.

"Based on the rankings, we can decide which players can represent Indonesia to compete in the Grand Prix series tournaments in one year."

Subagyo said that some coaches in the center would be assigned to observe the shuttlers in the respective chapter centers.

"Some coaches will train the shuttlers in the chapters under supervision of PBSI."

Subagyo said the system must be implemented even if only two or three centers were ready.

The system continue after the Olympics with a promotion and relegation procedure. Players judged to have performed poorly would be sent back to their clubs or chapters and replaced by younger shuttlers.

PBSI training director Christian Hadinata declined to name the 32 shuttlers, saying the appointment would be based on the IBF rankings.

Subagyo said PBSI invited former world men's singles champion Iie Sumirat to handle Taufik, who used to train with him, in preparation for the Olympics.

"We don't want Taufik to be put under great pressure for the Olympics, but we also don't want his talent to be wasted. Hopefully, Iie can help Taufik to overcome his barriers in the future," he said. (yan)