PBSI changes mind on Sudirman Cup target

JAKARTA (JP): The criticism heaped on the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) over its decision to put aside the Sudirman Cup and prioritize the World Championships has apparently been enough to make its officials change their mind.

On Wednesday, PBSI executive director Karsono corrected the statement issued by chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo during the national championships in January in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.

"The PBSI realizes that a place in the semifinals is not a target at all. It would be better for the PBSI not to send shuttlers to the event than to have such a target," he told reporters.

"We have reviewed the target and now we are aiming to grab the title with everything we've got."

This, however, is a target that seems too good to be true as Indonesia -- which will only rely on the men's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles -- is facing the 1999 runner-up Denmark and dark horse England in the round-robin competition from May 28 to June 3 at the San Pablo Stadium in Seville, Spain.

Another group will feature defending champion China, two-time winner South Korea and Sweden.

Indonesia took the Cup on its inauguration in 1989. South Korea won the title twice in 1991 and 1993 while China has held the trophy since 1995.

Subagyo had said that the target had been set due to Indonesia's weakness in the women's sector, both singles and doubles. This was an opinion that was later criticized by some badminton observers.

In 1999, Indonesia narrowly lost 3-2 to Denmark in the semifinals after losing in the women's singles and doubles and men's singles.

"The PBSI will also provide bonuses for shuttlers if they manage to bring home the Cup. I can't say what kind of bonus because we are still considering it," Karsono said.

He also revealed that the PBSI would have a meeting on Friday with shuttlers at the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, to encourage shuttlers who had expressed their objections due to their personal targets in the World Championships and the semifinals target.

World number three men's singles shuttler Taufik Hidayat rejected the possibility of shuttlers boycotting the Sudirman Cup.

"I've heard nothing about any plans to boycott the Sudirman Cup if the target is only to reach the semifinals," he told reporters while watching juniors competing in the Jakarta Open at Senayan.

"If I could choose, however, I would prefer to concentrate on the individual World Championships. I have prepared myself to grab the title."

The individual event World Championships will take place from June 4 to June 10 at the same venue as the Sudirman Cup. (nvn)