PBSI 'can't finance' all shuttlers to All England
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)