PBSI hopes to serve up two titles in All England
PBSI hopes to serve up two titles in All England
JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) is
holding out hope for its shuttlers to take the men's singles and
doubles at the All England championships in Birmingham, England,
next week.
PBSI training director Christian Hadinata said on Friday that
based on last year's experience, Indonesia held an outstanding
chance of retaining the men's doubles title and triumphing in the
men's singles.
"Our men's singles are expected to bring home the title for
the first time since 1994, when Hariyanto Arbi won the All
England a second time," he said.
Top ranked Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan defeated South
Koreans Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong-sung for the country's sole All
England title in 1999. Teenager Taufik Hidayat lost to Dane Peter
Gade Christensen in last year's men's singles final.
PBSI will send Taufik, who is ranked fifth in the world,
Hendrawan (12) and Budi Santoso (13) in the men's singles. Marlev
Mainaky is skipping the sport's most prestigious event because he
is still recovering from corn surgery. Newly married Hariyanto
Arbi is also missing the event because his physical conditioning
is below competition level.
Taufik said earlier that his target was to at least reach the
final. In the absence of Sun Jun of China due to back pain,
Taufik has a major chance of fulfilling his ambition.
Coach Agus Dwi Santoso said Hendrawan was in good physical
condition after a bout of typhoid in January.
"He is recovering from illness and ready to compete in the All
England. I hope he can reach the semifinals at least. While Budi
understands his weakness on court and has regained his motivation
to reach his best."
Candra and Tony have targeted regaining their title. PBSI will
also send Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky, Flandy Limpele and Eng
Hian, Antonius and Denny Kantono and Sigit Budiarto and Halim
Heryanto.
Christian said the women's singles and doubles players should
not lose to lower-ranked opponents in the remaining three
tournaments -- All England, Swiss Open and Japan Open -- to
qualify for the Olympic Games in Sydney in September.
"I have urged them to do their best to beat higher-ranking
players to enable them to gain bonus points which will be useful
to qualify for the Olympics," he said.
In the women's singles, only Lidya Djaelawidjaja, world ranked
13, has qualified for the Olympics. World ranked 17 Ellen
Angelina and Cindana Hartono (19) still have to earn enough
points to qualify. Cindana will miss the All England due to a
calf injury.
"I aim to reach the quarterfinals in the All England," Lidya
said. "I really want to beat seeded players in the event. After
the Uber Cup qualifying round in New Delhi last month, I have
been able to concentrate more for each match and gain self-
confidence."
Women's doubles specialist Deyana Lomban, partnering Elysa
Nathanael, said she was determined to unseat the Chinese doubles
teams, the best in the world.
"This is the first time for me to compete in the All England
with Elysa and I really want to win. The experience in the Uber
Cup boosted my motivation and self-confidence. I feel I can play
much better than before."
PBSI will also send Etty Tantri and Cynthia Tuwankotta,
Indarti Issoliana and Carmelita and Emma Ermawati and Vita
Marissa in the women's doubles.
The Olympics executive training director, Arie Sudewo, who is
also the vice chairman of the National Sports Council (KONI),
urged shuttlers not to be daunted by their opponents.
"If they have the guts to challenge you, what are you afraid
of? You can also beat them. Just play as usual and be relaxed.
Consider yourselves to be underdogs to release the burden on your
shoulders." (yan)