PBSI makes changes to badminton lineup
PBSI makes changes to badminton lineup
JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
has made changes to its lineup of shuttlers to compete in the
Malaysia and Thailand Opens.
The PBSI secretary-general, Leo Chandra Wiranata, said the
official in charge of athletes' development, Mangombar Ferdinand
Siregar, changed some names on June 17.
PBSI pulled men's singles Johan Hadikusuma and Indra Wijaya
from both tournaments and replaced them with Irwansyah and Yudi
Suprayogi. Jeffer Rosobin and Rony Agustinus will still play at
both events.
In the women's singles, Lidya Djaelawidjaja and Ellen Angelina
replaces Meiluawati and Yuli Marfuah in the Malaysia Open to
accompany Cindana. In the Thailand Open, only Yuli Marfuah will
compete because PBSI has withdrawn Ellen and Lidya.
In the men's and mixed doubles, Agung Wahyu will replace Imam
Tohari in the Malaysia Open. Agung will partner Halim Heryanto in
the men's doubles and Emma Ermawati in the mixed doubles.
But in the Thailand Open, Imam will compete in the mixed
doubles with Vita Marissa, who will also play in the women's
doubles with Emma.
On June 22, Siregar sent a second letter to the Malaysia Open
organizers requesting that Yuli be accepted as a participant, but
the organizers declined, saying it was too late.
The national training director, Christian Hadinata, said
Siregar was in charge of deciding which shuttlers compete in
tournaments.
"I don't really know about it because coaches discuss the
problems directly with Pak Siregar," he said.
Siregar and his deputy, Hadi Nasri, were unavailable for
comment.
Leo warned Siregar not to change the players seven days prior
to the tournament, otherwise PBSI would have to pay a US$250 fine
per athlete.
The Malaysia Open will start on June 30 and last through July
4 while the Thailand Open is on July 7 through July 11.
Leo said PBSI would also send five males and females to
compete in the Golden Eagle Asian Junior 1999 in Yangoon from
July 11 to July 17. They are Atu Rosalina, Mona Santoso, Chiung
Siang, Enny Erlangga and Diah Novita on the females' side and
Endra Feryanto, Bobby Santoso, Agung Kuncoro, Hendri Kurniawan
Saputra and Wandri Kurniawan Saputra on males' side. (yan)