PBSI 'can't finance' all shuttlers to All England
JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) Subagyo Hadisiswoyo said on Friday that the body could not afford to fulfill shuttlers' demands for their expenses to be covered for the All England tournament.
"So far, PBSI has decided to cover the expenses of only two entrants to each event, both singles and doubles, for the All- England. I don't know the shuttlers' reaction, but they must understand our financial condition," he said at the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.
"We, the officials, still have to provide Rp 67 million (US$6,980) to cover the deficit from the proposed budget of Rp 3 billion."
Subagyo was responding to complaints from some shuttlers about the association's policy to provide only two "tickets" for each event.
PBSI plans to send Hendrawan, Taufik Hidayat, Marlev Mainaky, Budi Santoso, Ronny Agustinus and Johan Hadikusuma in the men's singles. Only Hendrawan and Taufik are fully financed by PBSI while the others must pay for themselves.
In the women's singles Lidya Djaelawidjaja and Ellen Angelina earn the privilege while Yuli Marfuah has to suffer on her own.
The women's doubles and mixed doubles will not encounter any problems as PBSI will send only two pairs for each event.
Deyana Lomban will team up Carmelita while Etty Tantri will partner Indarti Issoliana in the women's doubles. Tri Kusheryanto will play with Indarti and Bambang Suprianto will partner with Minarti Timur in the mixed doubles.
PBSI will send four pairs in the men's doubles comprising: Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian; Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto; Tony Gunawan and Halim Heryanto; and Antonius Budi Arianto and Ricky Subagdja.
Only Ricky and Antonius, who just quit the center, will personally finance their trip.
Later on Friday, PBSI secretary general Leo Chandra Wiranata raised hopes by saying that the body might finance all shuttlers to the event.
Meanwhile men's doubles coach Herry Imam Pierngadi said he was still negotiating with the center's training director Christian Hadinata on the possibility of financing all three men's doubles.
The decision on this matter will be taken on Monday.
Yuli herself expressed disappointment with the policy, saying that PBSI broke its promise.
"It is fine if had PBSI decided not to send me in the first place. But it earlier announced that I would go but then suddenly changed its mind," Yuli told The Jakarta Post.
"It's my first All England as PBSI has rarely sent me abroad during my five years in the center. How do they expect me to improve my world rank?"
"Besides, I believe that I have equal ability with Lidya and Ellen although my world rank is lower than theirs."
Yuli had said earlier she would consider quitting the center but later on changed her mind, saying she would see Monday's final decision on the All-England.
PBSI also decided to admit 30 juniors -- passing all tests from 61 candidates -- to the center.
Later on Friday, PBSI had announced 16 juniors to be prioritized to join the center and the total number of junior shuttlers in the center will be between 21 and 24.
"Two shuttlers from those receiving priority failed to pass a health test so PBSI has had to drop them. We also admitted 16 other junior shuttlers to the center," he said.
Leo mentioned only that the juniors would comprise six each in the men's singles, women's singles and women's doubles, seven shuttlers in men's doubles and five shuttlers in mixed doubles.
"The odd number of shuttlers in men's and mixed doubles is to enable us preview the men shuttlers ability. In the end, there will be three pairs in both men's and mixed doubles," he said.
"Those junior shuttlers were selected based on their achievement, potential, health, future prospects, and physical ability." (nvn/yan)