PBSI aims to win one title at World C'ships

PBSI aims to win one title at World C'ships

JAKARTA (JP): Winning two titles at the just-concluded Japan
Open has heightened the Badminton Association of Indonesia's
(PBSI) ambition to win at least one title at the World
Championships in Seville, Spain, in June.

"Winning two titles at the Japan Open doesn't necessarily
guarantee our success at the World Championships. We have to
watch out for players from other countries," PBSI executive
training director, Christian Hadinata, told The Jakarta Post by
phone on Monday.

"We aim to bring home one title from the World Championships.
All shuttlers, coaches and officials are committed to reaching
this target."

"The World Championships is the most prestigious event this
year and it's a challenge for us."

Indonesia managed to grab the men's doubles title thanks to
the reunion of former world champions Sigit Budiarto and Candra
Wijaya, who grabbed the 2000 Sydney Olympics gold with Tony
Gunawan.

Another title came from veteran players Bambang Suprianto and
Minarti Timur who only began their partnership in November after
Minarti won the Olympic silver medal with Tri Kusheryanto.

The strategy to team up Candra and Sigit; Tony and Halim
Heryanto, who managed to bring home the All England title, is
apparently convincing as both pairs are reliable in major events.

In mixed doubles, PBSI is focusing on the new partnership of
Tri and Indarti Issoliana, who have yet to achieve their best
form as they only managed to reach the third round of the Japan
Open.

"We don't want to repeat our failure in the 1999 World
Championships in Copenhagen where none of our shuttlers reached
the semifinals," Christian said.

"It will be harder because we are now facing tougher
competition. None of our shuttlers dominate particular events
anymore, not even in the men's doubles. It's completely different
with the women's sector where the Chinese now dominate."

Therefore, PBSI has arranged to improve the skills and
physical condition of players.

"Singles shuttlers will continue their physical training with
coach Paulus Pasurney, while the doubles will be handled by their
respective coach as Pak Tahir Djide is unavailable to directly
coach them. He will act as a consultant for the doubles coach,"
Christian said.

PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo had called shuttlers to
focus more on the World Championships in Seville, Spain, from
June 4 to June 10 instead of the Sudirman Cup mixed team event at
the same place from May 27 to June 3.

Christian emphasized that Indonesia must win three events;
men's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles to win the Cup.

PBSI plans to set up a special team to prepare shuttlers but
Christian declined to name the team manager.

"It has yet to be decided. We have to consult Pak Subagyo
first."

It also plans to stage a warm-up competition sometime next
month. "As the real simulation for players are usually
tournaments before a major event."

PBSI is likely to send Taufik Hidayat, Hendrawan and Marlev
Mainaky in the men's singles; Flandy and Eng Hian, Candra and
Sigit, Tony and Halim in the men's doubles; and Bambang and
Minarti, Tri and Indarti and Nova Widhianto and Vita Marissa in
the mixed doubles.

In the women's competitions, PBSI is likely to field Lidya
Djaelawidjaja and Yuli Marfuah in the singles; and Indarti and
Deyana Lomban, Etty Tantri and Vita Marissa, and Carmelita and
Emma Ermawati in the doubles. (yan)