'PBSI must change recruitment policy'

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) has to change the paradigm it uses for the recruitment of players to the training center if Indonesia is to produce promising athletes in the future, according to team manager Christian Hadinata.

"It's imperative to opt for another paradigm. We must have a revolutionary policy in the way we recruit the players," Christian said in Eindhoven, Netherlands, as quoted by Antara on Sunday.

Christian, who is the director of the Cipayung Training Center, was speaking after yet another Indonesian failure in the Sudirman Cup.

Indonesia was denied the final match after being defeated by China 1-3 in the semifinals on Saturday. The 2003 final pitted South Korea and China with the latter winning by 3-1 on Sunday, according to the tournament's official website www.toernooi.nl.

Christian said the clubs, the provincial badminton administrations and other sides involved in badminton development were still dominated by the old paradigm.

"They still believe that whoever wins tournaments more regularly should be allowed into the training center," he said.

"That should not the case. We must follow the trend of play showed by opponents in international tournaments.

"Look at the players from China, South Korea, Denmark, even Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei. They are physically tall. They have good footwork.

"If we don't change the paradigm for the sake of adapting to the playing style of our opponents, I'm sure we are still porous in the women's field," he said.

Against China, men's singles Taufik Hidayat contributed the only point for Indonesia, while men's doubles Candra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto, women's singles Maria Kristin and doubles Lita Nurlita/Jo Novita failed to hold on against their respective opponents.

Meanwhile, South Korea's victory was decided in the men's doubles in which Lee Dong-soo/Yoo Yong-soo defeated Zhang Wei/Cai Yun 15-3, 17-14.

Korea opened its charge when Kim Dong-moon/Ra Kyung-min thumped Zhang Jun/ Gao Ling 11-8, 11-0 to go in front. China leveled through Gong Ruina, who beat Jun Jae-youn 7-11 11-7 11-2.

The champion regained the lead, courtesy of Lee Hyung-il, a 15-10, 15-12 winner over Chen Hong.